Police in Majorca have arrested an Italian man on suspicion of raping a British woman on a beach near Magaluf.

The 20-year-old was held after the victim complained he had forced himself on her after a night out in Palmanova which borders the famous party resort.

The alleged victim, 38, is a holidaymaker, according to sources close to the investigation.

Those sources confirmed today the alleged rape had occurred in the early hours of April 11 but the arrest had not taken place until three days later after detectives took statements from a witness and viewed CCTV footage. 

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Majorca said today: 'The Civil Guard in Calvia has arrested an Italian man aged 20 as the suspected author of a crime of sexual assault on a woman aged 38.

'Last week, the alleged victim and suspect coincided in a late-night bar in Palmanova.

'When the bar closed, the suspect allegedly took advantage of the woman's state of disorientation because of the amount of alcohol she had drunk, to take her to the beach and rape her.

'Officers began an investigation and managed to identify and locate the alleged offender.'

The 20-year-old was held after the victim complained he had forced himself on her after a night out in Palmanova (pictured) which borders the famous party resort

The unnamed Italian was released on bail by an investigating magistrate following a subsequent court appearance.

The criminal probe is ongoing and the judge is now awaiting the results of further tests.

News of the case comes just a day after it emerged Portuguese police had arrested a 47-year-old masseur accused of raping a 71-year-old British pensioner in the Algarve town of Quarteira. 

A spokesman for Portugal's Policia Judiciaria police force said: 'Last Friday the Polícia Judiciaria arrested a 47-year-old man strongly suspected of raping a 71-year-old foreign national at a massage centre in the municipality of Loule.

'The alleged victim reported the incident which the police found out had allegedly occurred after a massage session.

'As a result of the investigation, conducted by the PJ's Southern Directorate, officers were able to gather some very relevant evidence.'

The 71-year-old went to police after allegedly being sexually attacked following a massage session in the Algarve town of Quarteira (file image of the town)

A source close to the ongoing investigation added: 'We are waiting for the medical reports to build up a full picture of what happened.

'Police are also looking into the arrested man's background to see if there have been prior cases involving this individual.

'In these kinds of cases, victims very often don't go to police out of shame or trauma although for now the information police have been able to gather on the detainee don't point to him having previous arrests or convictions in Portugal for any sex crimes.'

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The unnamed man has already appeared in court and been bailed with the obligation to sign on every week and agree to a ban on contacting his alleged victim or her family.

The British woman made her initial complaint to Portugal's GNR police force with support from her family.

One well placed source described her as being 'very upset' when she raised the alarm.

The commercial premises her alleged sex attacker operated from has not been identified.

Quarteira lies between the exclusive area of Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura with its magnificent marina and several golf courses.

It caters for a large number of Portuguese tourists and locals and is famed for its good value restaurants and bars.