A man has been taken into custody following an alleged sexual assault on a woman near an M1 service station in Leicestershire. The incident occurred as the woman, aged in her 20s, was walking on Baines Lane towards Hinckley Road in Leicester Forest East between 6.20pm and 6.40pm last Saturday, according to Leicestershire Police.

Reportedly, the woman was approached from behind, forcibly pulled to the ground, and sexually assaulted by a man. The assailant fled towards the southbound services after the victim began calling for help. Subsequently, police disclosed that a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape in connection with the ongoing investigation. The arrest took place at the Leicester Forest East southbound services on Tuesday afternoon, and the suspect remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Jenny Tattersall, from Signal, the specialized unit handling rape and sexual assault cases, expressed gratitude for the information received thus far and urged additional witnesses to come forward to aid the investigation. She emphasized that despite the arrest, the inquiry is still active and encouraged anyone with relevant details to contact the authorities.

Authorities are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who may have stopped at the services between 4pm and 7pm, including HGV drivers and other motorists who might have traveled from outside Leicestershire. To facilitate information sharing, a dedicated public portal has been established for uploading dashcam footage and providing tips directly to the investigative team.

Individuals with pertinent information can contact the police by dialing 101 and referencing the case number 26*238050.