A rape victim has hit out at the law after Police released a suspect because they couldn't force him to give an intimate sample.

The woman was the third to be raped in the Southampton/Warwick area and she contacted The Royal Gazette after fearing the attacker had struck again at the weekend, this time in Pembroke, after being released.

She said: "I knew there was somebody in custody, they had the suspect almost straight away but they let him go because of insufficient evidence.

"They couldn't take a sample because it would violate some wonderful law.'' She said she had undergone the unpleasant experience of having a sample taken from her.

She said: "Really something needs to change if they are just going to let him go -- it makes the whole thing pointless. They are letting a rapist out on the streets.

"But it looks like he's attacked someone else -- the description is very similar.'' The man involved in Saturday night's rape in St. John's Church Cemetery, in Pembroke, was described by Police as being 5ft 8in, in his late 20s or early 30s, with a light brown complexion and closely cropped hair.

He was neatly dressed in blue jeans and a dark short-sleeved shirt.

The victim said: "The Police said there was good evidence but the reason they let him go was because they couldn't take certain samples. Before me there were two other attacks.'' The caller was attacked in the Heron Bay area on October 14 by a biker who had offered her a lift.

When he failed to follow directions she jumped off but was then grabbed and sexually assaulted.

Several days earlier a teenager was raped in broad daylight while walking home along the Railway Trail in Southampton.

And at the end of August an attacker broke into an East Avenue, Southampton home and inflicted a sex attack on the occupant as she lay in bed.

"I believe Bermuda should be made aware it's not an isolated incident. The Police took my attack seriously, they were angry about this law,'' the caller continued.

Rape victim blasts law "I am still having nightmares and I don't like going out because of this.

People should be aware of this guy.'' Another caller said the Police were not doing enough to publicise the crime or catch the culprit.

She said: "I live in Southampton and I am absolutely terrified when I go home late at night. It appears to be a general malaise.

"I think it's a serial rapist. I would be interested to know what the Police are doing. Can't they give out an artist's impression of the suspect? "At least we would know the Police are doing something. This is a serious crime but it just seems to be minimised by the lack of information to the public.

"But information is knowledge and knowledge is power.'' However, Police have not established a clear link between the first three rapes.

A spokesman said: "We are not ruling out any possibility, but we are not suggesting to the public it is a possibility.'' He added: "Police can confirm that a 35-year-old male was arrested in connection with the October 14 sexual assault shortly after the incident occurred.

"The investigating officers have gathered evidence that may prove useful to the case.

"Due to the delicate nature of this inquiry, it would not be prudent to comment further at this time.

"With regards to descriptions of suspects, Police will only release details when doing so will contribute to the investigation.

"It should be appreciated that there are instances when releasing specifics can hinder, rather than help Police inquiries.'' He said investigations into the Pembroke rape were in their early stages and he said there was no evidence to suggest a link with the rapes in the west end.

Penny Dill, Chairwoman of the Women's Resource Centre, said it was time the law which prevented suspects from giving semen and blood samples was examined.

She said: "Maybe we should look at this because the victim is often in shock and attacks often take place in the dark making giving a description difficult, if Police believe it could be the same person maybe it's reason to review.

"But you will always get isolated incidents.'' "If there are reasonable grounds to suspect someone then yes, we should look at a review of the law.'' However she pointed out that DNA evidence could be gained from hair samples, scratch marks and fingerprints and she said records were kept of ex-prisoners so repeat offenders could be quickly rounded up.

And she added that the human rights aspect of taking tissue samples should be looked at before any law change was made.

Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill said: "There is provision for this type of thing in other jurisdictions perhaps the powers that be should look more closely at that.

"Maybe there is a way to do it under the present law -- that's something for the Department of Public Prosecutions to look at.''