POLICE have arrested a local man over reports of a ‘deeply distressing’ hate crime in Northwich town centre.
Cheshire Police confirmed a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment on Sunday, January 12, after an incident of alleged racial abuse on Friday, November 1, last year.
The victim reported they were walking on Leicester Street at around 1.45pm when they were approached by an unknown man who was racially abusive towards them.
As the victim tried to walk away in the direction of Asda in Barons Quay, the man followed them and went on shouting racial abuse.
Officers launched an appeal for witnesses which included a CCTV image of a man they wanted to speak to in connection with the incident.
The suspect, who police described as ‘a local man’, has since been released on bail until Friday, April 11.
Following the alleged incident back in November, PC Alice Ewins, of Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: “This was a deeply distressing incident for the victim and we’re committed to doing all we can to trace the person responsible.”
Anyone who believes they have information about the alleged incident should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident reference number IML 1953295, or via www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.