Supermodel's husband suspected of rape

The husband of the supermodel Heidi Mount has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman during London Fashion Week, it has emerged. Shawn Mount, a 30-year-old hair stylist, was held by Scotland Yard detectives after the woman told police he sexually assaulted her in a central London hotel in the early hours of 20 September.

She reported the incident, which is said to have taken place at about 1.30am last Monday, to the Metropolitan Police the following day and Mr Mount was arrested shortly afterwards. He has since been released on bail.

The woman was taken to one of the force's "haven" suites for victims of sexual assault and has been interviewed by specially-trained detectives from the Met's Sapphire unit – a team of officers who deal exclusively in sex crimes.

Mr Mount, a New York-based hair stylist who has worked for Vogue and on advertising campaigns for brands such as Ralph Lauren, is said to have denied carrying out the attack, details of which first emerged yesterday in various Manhattan newspapers.

His wife, who last year replaced Claudia Schiffer as the face of Chanel and has modelled for Dior and Dolce and Gabbana, was on an assignment in Milan at the time of the alleged incident. The couple married in 2007 and have a three-year-old son.

After starting her modelling career in 2003, Mrs Mount took a break following her marriage, returning to the catwalk later that year. She has since worked in campaigns for Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein and Armani.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We received a complaint of a serious sexual assault at 1.30am on September 20 at a central London hotel. The victim was referred to a victim support centre.

"A 30-year-old man was arrested on September 21 on suspicion of rape and bailed to return to a London police station in November. He has not been charged and we are still investigating."

Spokesmen for Mr and Mrs Mount refused to comment on the allegations.