Police charged a 33-year-old asylum seeker with the r3pe of a woman in Skegness, Lincolnshire, 40 days after arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel in a dinghy.
The victim says she was dragged into bushes by a stranger and attacked, The Sun reports.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: ‘Officers were called to the Tower Gardens area of Skegness just after 10.40pm on Friday, June 9 to a report of a sexual assault.’
At a magistrates court hearing today, the defendant was denied bail and is awaiting his first crown court appearance.
Investigators are said to be working to determine whether he had any prior convictions before his arrival in the UK.
Describing the claims as ‘hugely shocking’, Skegness MP Matt Warman said it ‘understandably raised a number of significant concerns’.
However, he added: ‘I would ask that people resist the understandable desire to speculate on this case.’
Lincs Police said its investigation remains ongoing and specialist officers are working with the victim.
Investigators are appealing for witnesses or anyone who was in the Tower Gardens area of Skegness between 10pm and 11pm on Friday, June 9, who may have information that will assist in its inquiries to get in touch.