Man charged with string of kidnap and assault offences after women and girls in Gloucestershire

Man is charged with string of kidnap and assault offences after women and teenage girls across Gloucestershire were attacked by a hammer-wielding van driver – but police REFUSE to reveal suspect’s identity

  • Attacks have seen women hit with a hammer and grabbed by their neck by driver
  • A suspect has been charged with two counts of kidnap and four counts of assault
  • Gloucestershire Police urges victims to come forward, but won’t name suspect 
  • All of the offences are alleged to have taken place between July and October
  • Do you know the man who has been charged? Email [email protected] 

A man has been charged with a string of alleged kidnap and assault offences after women and teenage girls were attacked by a hammer-wielding van driver across Gloucestershire – but police are refusing to reveal the suspect’s identity.

Officers investigating suspected kidnappings, attempted kidnappings and four assaults against women, and girls as young as 16, since July announced they had charged a man from Gloucester, who appeared in court today.

In one incident on July 20, it is alleged a woman was struck to the head with a hammer while inside a van in the city. She managed to escape when she saw a member of the public passing by. 

Gloucestershire Police refused to name the suspect, despite him being charged and appearing in court. The force’s control room supervisor refused to tell MailOnline which court the defendant had appeared in on Wednesday, despite that normally being a matter of public record. 

He said the unusual secrecy was for ‘operational reasons’ but refused to say what they were. The officer refused MailOnline’s requests to speak to a force press officer.

Judges can impose reporting restrictions on defendants being named, but police do not have any such powers. It is unclear whether the court the suspect appeared in has done so. 

A woman was allegedly grabbed by the neck and three 16-year-old girls were also said to have been targeted by a van driver in Marsland Road, Cheltenham (above) who is suspected of trying to kidnap women 

Chief Constable Rod Hansen's constabulary, Gloucestershire Police, has refused to provide a name or age for the suspect

Chief Constable Rod Hansen’s constabulary, Gloucestershire Police, has refused to provide a name or age for the suspect

Along with the first allegation, dating back to July, the suspect has also been charged with an incident which took place in Marsland Road, Cheltenham, on September 14.

It’s alleged a woman was walking along Marsland Road in Cheltenham when she was approached by a man driving a van.

The man allegedly grabbed her by the neck and tried to kidnap her, but she managed to escape. 

On the same evening, three 16-year-old girls walking along the same road in Cheltenham were allegedly approached by a van driver who tried to grab one of them and drag her into his vehicle.  The three girls managed to run to safety.

The man has also been charged in connection with an incident in the early hours of Friday, 2 October where it is alleged a woman was struck around the head, causing her to fall to the ground.

She had been driven around inside the van which stopped on Twyver Close in Upton St Leonard before then being assaulted. She managed to escape and hid under a parked vehicle, before being helped by residents who then called the police. 

Detective Sergeant Faye Satchwell-Bennett said: ‘To suffer an incident such as this is traumatising and in some situations a victim may find it extremely difficult to come forward.

A woman was allegedly hit around the head while she was inside a van on Twyver Close, Upton St Leonard, last Friday

A woman was allegedly hit around the head while she was inside a van on Twyver Close, Upton St Leonard, last Friday

‘If you have been a victim of something similar, please know that you can talk to us and you will be supported throughout the process by the police and other agencies.

‘The victims in these cases have all spoken of the positive experiences they have had by coming forward and speaking to the police and the support they now have in place.

‘We are keen to hear from anyone who feels they may have information which could assist in our ongoing investigation.’

You can provide information to police by calling 101 and quoting case number 2119/20. 

Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The man has been remanded in police custody and is next due to appear at Gloucester Crown Court on November 7.