A MAN was arrested in connection with a racially aggravated rape in the West Midlands over the weekend, police confirmed today.

Officers were called on Saturday evening after a woman was reported to be distressed in the street in Walsall.

West Midlands Police said the woman, in her twenties, had been raped and assaulted at a nearby property by a man she did not know.

A 32-year-old man was arrested today in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham in connection with the crime.

The victim is believed to be a Sikh student, the Sikh Federation UK said in a statement.

Citing local sources, Dabinderjit Singh, lead executive of the organisation, said: “The attacker apparently followed her and broke down the door of the house where she was living.

“He was heard using the offensive P and B words during the rape.”

Detective Superintendent Ronan Tyrer said: “Our investigation will progress today, and, as always our priority is the woman who was the subject of this attack.

“She has been updated this morning and will continue to receive full support from specially trained officers.”

Separately, last month, a Sikh woman was raped in Oldbury, also in the West Midlands, in an incident also treated as racially aggravated.

A 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the incident.

At the time, the victim released a statement through the Sikh Federation saying: “I would never wish this on anyone.

“All I was doing was going about my day on my way to work, and what has happened has deeply affected us.”