Police hunt attacker who followed woman through Clapham before sexually assaulting her

Tom Powell17 May 2017
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Police are hunting a man who followed a woman through Clapham in the middle of the night before sexually assaulting her.

Detectives have released a CCTV image of a man they want to question following the terrifying attack at around 4am on Thursday, 11 May.

The victim, aged in her 40s, was followed by the attacker as she walked from Clapham Junction.

He then sexually assaulted her on Clapham Common North Side before fleeing across the common.

Sought: Police want to speak to this man about the incident
Met Police

Police have linked the incident to reports of a different woman being followed by a man in Battersea High Street at around 2.30 that night.

This woman was not attacked but she did report the incident to police.

Detectives described the man as aged in his late teens to early 20s, wearing a hooded training top.

Detective Constable David Musselwhite, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "I am asking for the public's help to identify this man that was captured on CCTV near to the scene of the attack. It is really important that we speak to him.

Scene: the attack took place on the road running along the north edge of Clapham Common
Google

"Earlier in the morning on Thursday, 11 May, we are investigating if he was in Battersea High Street following another woman. She was not attacked.

"From about 3.30am that morning the man is seen to follow the woman from Clapham Junction. He may have spent some time in this area prior to this.

"Were you out in Battersea or Clapham that night, into the early hours, and saw a man fitting this description? Have you seen him or do you know who he is?"

The CCTV released by detectives shows the man they want to grill walking in St John's Road, Clapham Junction.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the investigation team on 020 8721 4122, or police via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC.

To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

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