Man in Custody After Hammer Attack and Sexual Assault in Southampton

A 56-year-old man has been arrested following a late-night incident in Southampton in which a woman was injured and members of the public were threatened.

Police were first called at around 11pm last night (Thursday, 5 March) to reports of a man acting suspiciously on Queensway. It was reported that the man exposed himself, inappropriately touched a woman and threatened people nearby with a hammer.

During the incident, a 50-year-old woman sustained a minor arm injury after reportedly being struck with the hammer. The suspect is also accused of damaging a member of the public’s motorbike seat with the weapon.

The man left the area but returned shortly afterwards. Officers arrived at the scene within five minutes at around 12.50am and arrested the 56-year-old on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, exposure, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, sexual assault and criminal damage.

He remains in police custody while enquiries continue.