Man held over 'gang rape'

Grosvenor House Hotel: where alleged attack took place
13 April 2012

Police investigating claims by a 17-year-old girl that she was gang-raped by a group of men including Premiership football stars, made their first arrest today.

A 29-year-old man went voluntarily to a central London police station. He was formally arrested and is being quizzed by detectives.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A 29-year-old man has attended a police station by appointment today.

"He was arrested in connection with allegations of rape and sexual assault by a 17-year-old woman.

"He remains in custody and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

The alleged victim received the results of an HIV test today, which were negative.

Public relations consultant Max Clifford, who is advising the girl and her family, said: "She is very relieved about that."

He said the girl and her family welcomed the first arrest in the case but feared the investigation was taking too long.

"It's with immense relief that things are starting to happen," he said.
"They have been getting increasingly frustrated. The longer time went by, the harder it's going to be to prove.

"The family are tremendously relieved that something seems to be happening but the worry is that it's been left too long. They are relying on the police to get them justice."

The girl has told police she agreed to have sex with one man and was then attacked by up to seven others, some of whom were allegedly Premiership footballers, in room 316 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London, on September 27.

Earlier this week the girl refuted claims by party organiser Nicholas Meikle about the night on which she was allegedly raped.

He said the girl had agreed to have sex with him and had then consented to sex with one of his friends and two Premiership footballers from two different clubs, and that at no stage had she been raped.

The investigation into her claims is being carried out by Scotland Yard's elite Operation Sapphire team, which handles sex crimes.

Rumours about the identities of the soccer players allegedly involved have flooded the Internet and circulated among fans, but the media have so far not published their names.

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