Police hunt second suspect after alleged rape of two girls in Great Yarmouth

Police are searching for a second suspect after two teenage girls were reported raped in Great Yarmouth, a case that has prompted an increased presence along the seafront and renewed scrutiny of night-time safety in the area.

Officers were called to South Beach Parade at 12.37am on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and Norfolk Constabulary initially sealed off the scene with a cordon while inquiries began. The cordon has since been lifted, but detectives have kept the investigation active and are treating the search for the second suspect as a priority.

A man in his thirties was arrested in Northamptonshire on Sunday, May 17, on suspicion of rape and taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre, where he remained for questioning. Police said they are still looking for another man believed to have been involved. He is described as white, in his 30s or 40s, with short dark hair and dark facial hair, and was wearing blue jeans and a dark green jacket with a white stripe on both sleeves.

Chief Inspector Nick Paling, the district commander for Great Yarmouth, said specialist officers had been deployed to support both girls and described the incidents as “shocking and distressing” for the victims, their families and the wider community. He said there would be an increased police presence in the area, including reassurance patrols, as officers work to reassure residents and visitors while the investigation continues.

The case has raised immediate questions about safety around South Beach Parade, where late-night footfall, limited visibility and gaps in deterrence can leave teenagers and other vulnerable people exposed. Police have not released further details about the circumstances of the alleged assaults, but they are urging anyone who saw anything unusual in the area, or who may have information about the second suspect, to come forward.

Witnesses or anyone with relevant information have been asked to contact police on 101, report online, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, quoting crime reference 36/34665/26.