Man, 65, who ‘went on the run after attacking woman at well-known Welsh beauty spot’ is arrested for rape and false imprisonment after hunt by armed police
- Anthony Manson, 65, went on the run after allegedly attacking a woman
- Police have now found Manson following a hunt in Monmouthshire, Wales
A 65-year-old man who went on the run after allegedly attacking a woman at a well-known beauty spot has been arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and rape.
Armed cops had been hunting for Anthony Manson, who lives off-grid without planning consent on the side of a valley in historic Tintern, Monmouthshire, since the early hours of yesterday morning.
His alleged victim was found staggering along a nearby road, covered in cuts and bruises and with her clothing torn, by a local who contacted the police.
A statement released today by Gwent Police confirmed Manson had been caught.
The force said: ‘We previously appealed for information to find Anthony Munson from the Tintern area. He has been arrested on suspicion of force and rape. He remains in police custody.’
Anthony Manson, 65, (pictured) went on the run after allegedly attacking a woman in his caravan in Tintern, Monmouthshire
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According to locals, Manson bought the two-acre parcel of land where he lives for £60,000 from a farmer seven years ago and installed a caravan without consent from the local authority, Monmouthshire Council.
Council officials have made several attempts in recent years to speak to Manson on his land, but they have been unable to enter the field due to a padlocked gate and aggressive dogs protecting him.
Manson is understood to have gone on the run following the attack, which is believed to have taken place at his caravan.
Police quickly launched a hunt for Manson that saw them send out a helicopter, two police vans, specially trained fireams officers, and four other vehicles.
It is believed he hid from police officers with his dogs in the sprawling Tintern Forest behind his caravan in the Angidy Valley.
Manson’s nearest neighbour, retired consultant engineer Barry Saunders, 82, previously said the attack sounded ‘extremely out of character’.
‘I’ve got to know him a little over the years and I’ve always found him to be the most pleasant, charming man,’ Mr Saunders said.
‘He does seem to have lady friends staying with him quite frequently. They come and they go.
Anthony Manson, 65, is believed to have gone on the run with his dogs in Tintern’s sprawling forests
‘He lives off grid and he doesn’t bother anyone. He has solar panels and his own generator and he uses water from a nearby brook to wash and cook.
‘I’ve never known him show any sign of aggression. I don’t know a great deal about him, but I think he told me once that he was from Paraguay, or somewhere in South America, but he has no trace of a foreign accent.
‘He has two Italian mastiff-type dogs and they are strong, potentially fierce dogs, but he always has them perfectly under control.
‘I do know the council have sent officials, usually accompanied by the police, to his field several times because he doesn’t have any consent to live there, and they always turn back because they are afraid of the dogs.
‘They have also been unable to get in because he has a huge padlocked gate at the entrance and he won’t come out to anybody.’
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