WB home invader charged with rape

(CNS) Updated 2:24pm Thursday: The West Bay man who was apprehended by police after a major pursuit in the district Tuesday has been charged with rape and aggravated burglary in connection with an armed home invasion last week. Andre Chase (22) appeared in Summary Court this morning and the case was transmitted to Grand Court, where he is due to appear on 7 August. Currently he is remanded in custody. Chase was also charged with a number of other crimes, including burglary, criminal trespass and car theft. 

The local man is accused of entering an apartment in the Town Hall area of West Bay on Thursday 23 July at around 10pm and threatening the female resident at knifepoint. Police had originally described the incident as a sexual assault but the charges against the suspect, who was unknown to his victim, is that of rape.

Against a backdrop of what seems to be a rise in violent home invasions and aggravated burglaries, the crime became a priority for the police who, the commissioner said, worked tirelessly over the weekend and earlier this week to track down and catch the offender.