PORTUGUESE police have arrested a massage therapist accused of raping a British pensioner.
The woman, 71, was allegedly sexually attacked following a massage therapist in the Algarve town of Quarteira.
The suspect, a 47-year-old man, is understood to be from Eastern Europe.
A spokesman for Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria police force confirmed there had been an arrest in the Algarve municipality of Loule, which includes Quarteira.
He said: “Last Friday the Polícia Judiciaria arrested a 47-year-old man strongly suspected of raping a 71-year-old foreign national at a massage center in the municipality of Loule.
“The alleged victim reported the incident which the police found out had allegedly occurred after a massage session.
“As a result of the investigation, conducted by the PJ’s Southern Directorate, officers were able to gather some very relevant evidence.”
The unnamed man has already faced court and been bailed under conditions including that he sign on every week, and that he agree to a ban on contacting the alleged victim and her family.
A source close to the ongoing investigation added: “We are waiting for the medical reports to build up a full picture of what happened.
“Police are also looking into the arrested man’s background to see if there have been prior cases involving this individual.
“In these kinds of cases, victims very often don’t go to police out of shame or trauma although for now the information police have been able to gather on the detainee don’t point to him having previous arrests or convictions in Portugal for any sex crimes.”
The British woman complained to Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) police with the support of her family.
She was “very upset”, according to a well-placed source.
It is not yet known where the alleged masseur worked.
Quarteira, located between the exclusive area of Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura, is a popular beach town with many restaurants and bars.
