Police arrest suspected sexual assailant

A man who allegedly followed, harassed and assaulted women walking alone at night has been arrested, according to Songjiang District People’s Procuratorate.

In May, a woman surnamed Wang reported to police that she was walking home alone at night when suddenly a man, smelling of alcohol, rushed at her. He put his arms around her and pushed her to the ground. As she screamed, the man fled, she claimed.

Days later, police received a second report of a woman who was assaulted at night in the same area. The woman, surnamed Lu, said her attacker covered her mouth with one hand and groped her with the other. According to the court, the man also kissed her.

The man fled when Lu’s screams attracted the attention of a neighbor.

Police checked surveillance footage and tracked down a man surnamed Hou, who was apprehended soon.

Hou allegedly confessed to several instances of following and harassing women after consuming alcohol.