Arrest made in rape inquiry

Police hunting a rapist who attacked a woman during a burglary at her home last week have made an arrest, it was revealed today.

The 36-year-old woke in the early hours of Friday morning to find two men in the bedroom of her house at Brookvale Avenue, north Belfast.

One ransacked the room whilst the other raped her, police said. She was also hit on the head and body during what police branded an “abhorrent and cowardly crime”.

The woman was taken to hospital following the 4am attack and was treated for her injuries. She was said to be “extremely traumatised”.

Police said after the burglary and rape that one of the attackers may have been as young as 14.

Today they said a male had been arrested in connection with the sexual assault.

Detectives investigating the crime made a fresh appeal for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the early hours of Friday morning in the Brookvale, Cliftonville Road or water Works area to contact them.