A man is due to appear in court after being charged in connection with an investigation into alleged serious sexual offences involving two teenage girls on a beach in Great Yarmouth.
Madalin Ilinca, 34, a Romanian national, has been charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Ilinca, of Stafford Road in Great Yarmouth, was detained at the port of Dover while re-entering the UK in connection with the investigation.
He was later taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre, where he was questioned and subsequently remanded in custody.
He is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday, police said.
A second man, aged in his 30s, was previously arrested in Northamptonshire on suspicion of rape linked to the same case on 17 May.
He has since been released on bail until 10 August while enquiries continue.
Police have also said they are seeking another suspect believed to be outside the UK at the time of earlier enquiries. He was described as a white man with short dark hair and dark facial hair, in his 30s or 40s.
Police were called at 12.37am on 16 May following reports of serious sexual offences involving two teenage girls on sand dunes beside South Beach Parade in Great Yarmouth.
Officers cordoned off an area of around 100 yards between the beach and the rear of a Premier Inn hotel as part of their initial response.
The location is near the Pleasure Beach amusement park and is overlooked by Wellington Pier.
The cordoned-off dunes are in an area where tents used by rough sleepers have been reported nearby, reports the Daily Mail.
Local people described seeing a significant police presence in the early hours following the incident.
Taxi driver Jamie Zmich, 33, reportedly said he saw police activity on his way to work.
“I was driving to work at around 4.10am on Saturday morning when I saw four or five police cars.”
“There were some parked in the Premier Inn car park and others in the side road leading to the beach. I wondered what had happened.”
“I was very sad to hear about the girls being raped. This town is not safe any more. Being a taxi driver, I see it all.”
Semi-retired window fitter Andrew Bird, 62, who had been living in a tent nearby after losing his accommodation, is understood to have said he became aware of the police cordon the following morning.
“I saw the tape and thought, "What the hell has been going on?" The officer would not tell me because of the ongoing investigation, and I left it at that.”
“I don't think anybody round here seems to have heard or seen anything. When I went into town, someone said there had been a stabbing.”
“Now I have found out that two girls were raped. It is just disgusting. The police should be getting all the help they need.”
“This is actually a quiet area because it is out of the town centre, so people come here in tents to avoid problems with their stuff being stolen.”
Chief Inspector Nick Paling, district commander for Great Yarmouth, said officers had deployed specialist resources following the incident.
“We recognise how shocking and distressing these incidents are for the victims, their families, and the wider community.”
“Specialist officers have been deployed to support both girls as we work through this investigation.”
“There will be an increased police presence in the area, with officers carrying out reassurance patrols. Please do approach them if you have any concerns or information.”
Ilinca is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday as the investigation continues.
