Sex attacks on males 'far more common than thought'

A man sought for the abduction and rape of a 25-year-old man in Hamilton has probably struck before, says a specialist in sexual abuse.

The victim was grabbed from behind as he walked home from a Hamilton West party early on Saturday.

He was frogmarched to a vacant section near Rifle Range Road in Frankton, where he suffered a prolonged sex attack. He was later found wandering in a distressed state.

Police said sex attacks on men were rare but Mike Holloway, of the Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust in Hamilton, said they were far more common than reports suggested.

Men were often reluctant to report sexual attacks and kept them secret, he told The Waikato Times.

"I can almost guarantee that there will be other incidents that have gone on out there that have gone unreported and chances are this offender has done it before."

Police said the rape appeared to be a random attack but was a reminder of the potential danger to both men and women in vulnerable situations.

Detective Sergeant Andy Bu Bear, of Hamilton CIB, said the man had been drinking and was alone when abducted and attacked.

He appealed for public help to catch the attacker.

- NZPA