Police arrest man after Man Utd party rape claim

Police are this morning questioning a 19-year-old man about claims that a woman was raped at a hotel where Manchester United footballers were holding a party.

The alleged assault occurred at the Great John Street Hotel in Manchester in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The man was arrested on suspicion of rape last night after presenting himself for questioning, Greater Manchester Police said.

He remained in custody overnight and is being held at a police station in Manchester.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police are currently investigating a report of rape at a hotel in Manchester city centre.

“At about 4.15am on Tuesday December 18 2007, police were called to the hotel on Great John Street to a report that a 26-year-old woman had been raped.

“Inquiries are continuing.”

Officers were yesterday seen taking three clear bags from the hotel which were put into a police van parked alongside the building.

A hotel spokeswoman said: “We did have an event on Monday night. We’re helping the police with an investigation.”

A Manchester United spokeswoman declined to comment.

The hotel was closed in the early part of yesterday but reopened last night.

The Great John Street Hotel is a boutique “town house” hotel converted from a Victorian schoolhouse in the trendy Castlefield area of Manchester.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the entire Manchester United first team – excluding Cristiano Ronaldo – attended their club’s annual Christmas party.

The players were reportedly entertained by burlesque dancers during lunch at the Manchester 235 Casino.

They were also said to have had a drink at the Old Grapes, a pub owned by former Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn.

Some of the group then went on to the hotel at around 9.30pm.