Schoolboy, 14, who 'used a fake ID' to get into a nightclub in Manchester's gay village, is arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman is attacked in the toilets

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A 14-year-old schoolboy has been arrested and questioned by detectives after a woman says she was raped in the male toilets of a city's popular nightclub.

But when the victim's friends raised the alarm and security found them in a toilet cubicle - they simply walked out and left her with her alleged attacker, a licencing hearing was told.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirm the teenager was later held after the alleged sex attack at the Bloom nightclub, in Manchester's gay village, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 29.

GMP stated that the female customer and her friends reported being approached by a teenager offering to sell them drugs at around 4.15 am and he entered the male toilets with her.

One friend claimed security staff said 'have a good one mate' to the teenager as he entered the male toilets with the woman, according to a police report.

A woman was allegedly raped by a teenage boy at Bloom nightclub in Manchester's gay village in the early hours of the morning

It is then alleged when alone with the woman, the teenage boy pounced on her and raped inside one of the men's toilet cubicles.

The woman is said to have texted her friends asking for help around twenty minutes later, who then alerted club staff.

A Manchester City Council licencing hearing heard allegations a male bouncer entered the toilets, knocked on the cubicle and realising there were two people inside allowed them to remain, and simply left.

A teenager was located and detained outside the club but was allowed to leave when they were told the victim did not want the police called.

But a police report to the city council said at around 5am one of the victim's friends contacted GMP to report the incident and officers attended the premises.

A 14-year-old boy was later arrested on suspicion of rape and taken into custody for questioning. He's now been bailed as investigations continue.

PC Stuart Hammersley from GMP said he was 'shocked' the nightclub did not contact the police immediately the incident was first reported as 'any forensic opportunities were lost' as a result.

Bloom nightclub is located in the heart of Manchester's popular gay village

He remarked: 'That's one of the most surprising things of everything that's gone on.

'If it was a very minor incident, if somebody had been pushed or punched and it's not a serious injury, and they didn't want the police involved, I can understand why they would take that on board and not necessarily contact us.

'But given the grave nature of this, I'm shocked that they didn't contact us to say what had happened and to say they had this person detained and leave that for the victim's friend to contact us directly herself afterwards.

'The opportunity for the male to be detained at the scene and any forensic opportunities were lost.

'Despite the victim at that stage not wishing to get the police involved, I think really it's incumbent on the premises to contact us either way.'

PC Hammersley told councillors that police believe the teenager got into the club using a fake ID.

Commenting on the fact the security left the two in the toilet cubicle, PC Hammersley added: 'I don't think anything was said to him specifically about what was going on.

'But obviously, it wouldn't be good practice for security to allow two people to remain in a toilet cubicle together without carrying out checks.'

The club's licence was suspended with immediate effect at the committee hearing, pending a full review which will be heard on July 25th.

The panel said they were 'gravely concerned' at what had happened during last Wednesday's shocking incident.

Speaking on behalf of the premises licence holder at the hearing, solicitor Stephanie Williams said the club 'understands the seriousness of what happened' and is conducting a 'full investigation' so could not comment further.

The club said in a statement issued before the hearing they would be closed whilst the investigation took place and that that they were 'working with the police and giving every assistance possible.'

Bloom said: 'Due to the severity of an incident which occurred in the club on Wednesday, Bloom Manchester will be closed to allow for a complete investigation to take place.

'We are working with the police and giving every assistance possible and ask for our customers' understanding and patience at this time.'

GMP have urged anyone with information over the incident to contact them.

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