Police in Tenerife have apprehended a man accused of sexually assaulting a female British tourist and violently robbing an elderly British couple on the same day. The suspect allegedly used a martial arts technique known as a rear naked choke, leaving the woman partially unconscious before robbing her of her mobile phone. The police reported that the assailant took advantage of the secluded location to launch the surprise attack.
On the same day as the alleged assault on March 23, the suspect reportedly attacked an 89-year-old British man and his 79-year-old wife, causing them to be hospitalized after being assaulted with his fists and feet. Additionally, the suspect was connected to another incident on March 20 involving the violent theft of a necklace from a Swedish tourist.
The Spanish National Police announced the arrest of the suspect, who is believed to be responsible for a sexual assault and two violent robberies in the southern part of Tenerife. The initial incident occurred in late March in Las Veronicas, with the victim providing crucial images of the suspect that aided the investigation.
Authorities were also investigating two violent robbery cases in Arona municipality, one of which occurred on the same day as the alleged sexual assault. The physical description of the suspect and the violent modus operandi in both cases matched, with one of the robberies involving an elderly couple who were attacked while trying to prevent the theft of the man’s watch.
The attacker was confronted by the victims, leading to a scuffle and the eventual theft of their shopping bag. A witness captured a photo of the suspect, which assisted in the investigation leading to the suspect’s arrest on March 27.