DORSET Police was alerted to the behaviour of a rapist hours before he carried out his sex attack in Poole - but no officers attended following the concern for welfare report.

The force said it was experiencing “higher-than-average calls” so officers were unable to attend after a witness called 999 with her concerns for the woman who Hasan Kyoybasha would later sexually assault.

A description of the man and woman was obtained and an incident log was created but closed a short time later by a supervisor.

An internal review by Dorset Police found there was no misconduct by staff or officers but procedures have now been changed.

Read more: Man convicted of raping woman after following her around at night

The 999 call was made by a witnesses who had been approached by Kyoybasha a short time earlier on the morning of September 5 last year.

She dismissed his advances before he switched his attention to the victim, who was aged in her 30s.

After he “pestered, badgered and followed” the lone female for an hour and 45 minutes, Kyoybasha raped her outside a building near Pottery Junction in Poole.

After Dorset Police received a report of rape, the force made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) The police watchdog referred the investigation back to the force so an internal review could take place.

Read more: 'Predatory' rapist who 'pestered and badgered' victim jailed for 15 years

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "The review found that at the time of the call, Dorset Police was responding to a higher-than-average number of calls for service and officers were not immediately available to attend.

"Subsequently, the incident log was closed by a supervisor, as police units remained heavily committed.

"The review recommended that a radio broadcast detailing the contents of the 999 call could have been made to alert officers in the area who may be attending other incidents.

"As a result of this, the force has changed its procedure to ensure that these matters are prioritised and radio broadcasts will always be made in cases where there is a concern for a person’s safety. We will always endeavour to prioritise attendance at an incident where suspicious activity has been reported and concerns have been raised for someone’s safety. No misconduct was identified.

"Those who use violence or intimidation against women and girls such as Kyoybasha will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.

"We will work with partners to create an environment where women and girls are both safe and feel safe from violence, intimidation and harassment through influencing and supporting change within communities and policing.

"Our thoughts continue to remain with the victim of Kyoybasha’s abhorrent offending"

As reported, Kyoybasha, 30 and of Ashley Road, Poole, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, with a four-year extended licence period, after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration at Bournemouth Crown Court.

At a sentencing hearing earlier this month, Judge Jonathan Fuller QC praised the woman who made the 999 call to police.