Police delayed plea in rape probe

Mohammed Korim is also wanted over alleged immigration offences

Avon and Somerset Police force has admitted waiting three months before appealing for the public's help to trace a suspected rapist.

Mohammed Korim, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi, was questioned over an attack on a woman in Banwell, North Somerset, in April.

He was bailed until 25 May as police awaited the results of forensic tests, but did not answer his bail.

The force appealed for the public's help to find Mr Korim on Friday.

A spokeswoman said: "We did make various enquiries once he failed to answer bail.

Second man

"A significant amount of work was done with other agencies and we chose not to release an appeal immediately for operational reasons and the possibility of driving him to ground.

"It was only when police investigations were exhausted that a decision was made to publicly appeal to trace him."

Mr Korim and a second man were arrested in April over the attack on the woman.

But police had insufficient evidence to charge him and he was released.

Two weeks later, on 1 May, Mr Korim was also wanted by the Home Office for suspected immigration offences, although this information was not passed to the police.

It was only after he failed to answer bail, nearly four weeks later, that officers began actively to hunt for him.

Police believe he could still be in the West Country, somewhere else in the UK or may have travelled to Bangladesh.

Mr Korim is around 5ft 6ins and of medium build. Police said he was "not considered a threat to the public".