Alleged rapist detained after returning to scene of 'attack' a week later, court told

An alleged rapist was arrested when he returned to the same area where the 'attack' happened a week later, a court has heard.

Police had issued a picture in the press of a man they wanted to speak to in connection with the incident, and a local doorman spotted Oldham man Samir Al Tawel wearing the same shoes, before pointing him out to a local police officer.

A jury at Liverpool Crown Court heard the constable followed Mr Al Tawel as he wandered around the Victoria Street area of Liverpool in the early hours of March 25 last year.

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The officer stopped him in Rainford Gardens, where the court heard Mr Al Tawel claimed he had missed his last train home to Manchester and was going to get a bus. He then said he waiting for a friend.

After checking the police systems, the officer formed the opinion he was the man in the picture and arrested him, the jury heard.

Dt Con Rebecca Robinson told a jury that when interviewed the 26-year-old defendant denied rape and said he had never met the alleged victim and had been at home in Manchester at the time of the offence. He was released on bail under investigation while inquiries continued. CCTV taken in the area of Temple Lane off Victoria Street on the night of the alleged rape showed he was wearing the same clothing then as when he was arrested, Dt Robinson said.

The court heard that Mr Al Tawel had also been wearing a snood and when this was forensically examined it was found to have his DNA and that of the alleged victim. Investigations showed he had got a train from Liverpool to Manchester on March 18 and he was re-interviewed but made no comment.

Mr Al Tawel, of