The 25-year-old is accused of targeting the holidaymaker during a violent burglary at an apartment in a Tenerife holiday resort.

The 74-year-old was attacked in May and spent a week being treated in hospital.

A spokesman for Spain’s National Police confirmed: ‘National Police officers have arrested a 25-year-old Moroccan man in Valencia as the suspect author of a sex attack and violent robbery in Tenerife.

‘He allegedly got into an apartment in Arona via the balcony in May and sexually attacked a 74-year-old British woman and took her belongings.

‘He was arrested in Valencia and has been handed over to the courts.

‘The incident in question took place on May 13 at apartments in a tourist part of Arona.

‘The woman victim was staying at the apartments.’