A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted while swimming with her family in Bournemouth – with a man arrested. 

The victim, in her 40s, reported being touched on her bottom over her clothing by a man while she was in the sea. 

She said the man approached her family as they swam to the left of the pier at Bournemouth beach on Sunday at around 6pm. 

Dorset Police urged anyone with information to contact the force. 

It said: ‘The man is described as of Indian descent, about five feet six inches tall and with black hair and a small stubbly beard. 

‘He was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts.’ 

The police added officers attended the scene and a 35-year-old London man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. He was released on conditional bail. 

Police Constable Matthew McGuinness, of Dorset Police, said: ‘We believe that there were independent witnesses that saw the incident and I am appealing for them to please contact us as this could assist us with our investigation.’

Beachgoers visited Bournemouth beach during the May Bank Holiday weekend this year

The incident comes after two women were allegedly sexually assaulted on the same day in June at Bournemouth beach. 

The first attack was reported at 3.07pm on June 23 at Bournemouth beach and involved a woman in her 20s, while the second was in her late teens and alerted police just an hour later at 4.18pm.

The women were both allegedly touched inappropriately over their clothing, with the first incident having taken place in the sea.

Police officers arrested two men after attending both incidents.

A 37-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in relation to the first alleged attack.

A 24-year-old man, also from London, was arrested in connection with the second incident.

Both men have been released on bail and have been banned from Dorset. 

Dorset Police said the two offences are not being treated as linked.

Mohammed Abdullah, 19, (pictured) was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in a beach toilet in Bournemouth

In a separate incident in the popular seaside town, a Syrian refugee was found guilty in May of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman after he offered her a ride home. 

Mohammed Abdullah sexually assaulted the victim before he took her into a locked beach toilet and raped her. 

The young woman was walking home alone on Bournemouth seafront after a night out in the early hours of July 6, 2025, when she encountered a group of men, including Abdullah.

The victim’s phone had died, and she asked the group to look at maps on one of their phones so she could tell where she was going as Abdullah offered her a ride home on the back of a hired bike.

Abdullah rode a short distance before stopping next to some portable toilets on the promenade and dragging the young woman towards them.

Anyone with information on Sunday’s incident is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260105198. 

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.