A 26-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old university student in Dunedin yesterday was arrested after her flatmates stopped him from leaving until police arrived.
Police were called about 3.30am after the woman's flatmates found the man in their Cumberland St flat, Senior Sergeant Mel Aitken said.
As a result of "good work" by the students the offender was prevented from leaving the area until police arrived.
The woman told police she had been sexually violated.
Police found stolen property in the man's possession, which appeared to have come from student flats in the area.
The unemployed man was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until Tuesday, when he appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday.
He faces four indictably-laid charges, two of burglary and one each of sexual violation and assault with intent to avoid detection.
He also faces an unrelated charge of being in a building without reasonable excuse, at Richardson St on June 21.
Snr Sgt Aitken said police wanted to hear from anyone who saw the alleged offender in the area of Cumberland St near Howe St between 10pm on Thursday and 3am yesterday.
He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark beanie and baggy tan trousers.
