DETECTIVES have been granted more time by magistrates to question a teenager arrested on suspicion of three assaults in Hampshire.

A 17-year-old youth can be held in custody for interviews until 1.40am on Wednesday.

The teenager, from Hilsea, was arrested on suspicion of three assaults in the Portsmouth area which happened in the last three weeks.

But detectives are taking no further action against a first man arrested in connection with assaults on lone women in the city.

The 30-year-old man from Waterlooville, who was arrested on Friday July 11, has been released without charge from police custody today.

Increased police patrols remain in place to provide reassurance while officers continue making enquiries, acting on new information and giving updates to members of the public.

The ongoing investigation is focused on the three connected assaults in Portsmouth on June 20, June 29 and July 11.

At around 10.40pm on Friday, June 20, 2014, a 20-year-old woman was walking along Southampton Road, opposite a block of flats on Ashurst Road, when she was approached from behind and assaulted.

She received a stab injury to the chest, which was serious but not life-threatening.

Shortly after 11am on Sunday, June 29, a 45-year-old woman was approached by a man along the shoreline of Ports Creek in Hilsea to the east of the footbridge crossing from Peronne Road to the Highbury estate.

She was assaulted and sustained a stab wound to her chest while her attacker ran off towards Hilsea Lines.

Shortly after 1pm on Friday, July 11 police to a report of an assault by a man on a 66-year-old woman who was walking in an alleyway between Colwell Road and Northern Road in Cosham.

The woman is recovering at home with her family.

Police advice to the community is to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour by phoning 101 – or 999 in an emergency Witnesses should contact the Hampshire Major Investigation Team at Fratton Police Station by phoning 101 and quoting Operation Bedham or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.