Locations
Ivanhoe Street, Dudley, DY2
Description
This is the moment we arrested a sex attacker less than 90 minutes after he targeted a woman in Brierley Hill.
Arez Omer, 40, had spotted the woman, who was walking home after a night out with friends, as she walked from Hill Street on the night of 8 August last year.
CCTV shows how he followed her before sexually assaulting her before calmly walking away.
The woman called police and was able to give a description of him, which was passed to CCTV operators at Dudley Council who were able to locate him and guide officers to where he was – more than two miles away on King Street in Dudley town centre.
Det Sgt Sian Edwards, from our Public Protection Unit, said:
"This was a terrifying attack on a woman simply going home after a night out with friends in Brierley Hill.
"Omer has preyed on a woman who repeatedly told him to stop and was able to fend him off and call the police.
"There was some excellent teamwork between call handlers, CCTV operators at Dudley Council and Response officers to bring Omer into custody quickly, enabling us to build a really strong case against him and secure his conviction.
"I’d like to pay tribute to the bravery of the woman during and after this awful incident, who we have supported throughout.
"I also hope the prompt actions of our officers in responding to such incidents of violence will give others, no matter the circumstances, the courage to come forward. We are ready to support you and get justice."
Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for development and regulation, said:
“I welcome the court judgement following this shocking and upsetting case, and our thoughts are with the victim of this abhorrent attack.
“I would like to thank the team, who were able to utilise our CCTV to locate footage of the perpetrator within 90 minutes of the attack and support police in finding his location.”
Omer, of Ivanhoe Street, Dudley, appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court on 4 February where he admitted sexual assault and exposure.
He was remanded in custody and jailed for 33 months on Friday.