DETECTIVES IN LONDON investigating two separate sex attacks in the space of two days have appealed for information.
A £10,000 (about €11,400) reward is on offer from the independent charity Crimestoppers for information that leads to the identification and conviction of the offender.
The case will feature on BBC1’s Crimewatch Roadshow today, showing extended CCTV footage of one of the attacks.
On Wednesday, 10 May, a 36-year-old woman had been out in Dalston. At around midnight, she began her journey home. She was wearing headphones.
The extended CCTV footage shows a man initially walking along the deserted Haggerston Road in a northbound direction. After a few moments the victim emerges, travelling south along Haggerston Road in an opposite direction to the man.
The man runs across the road and loiters behind some bushes before he starts to follow her.
‘Tackled her to the ground with force’
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “He then emerges and begins prowling behind her on the footpath, menacingly increasing his walking speed.”
A camera “continued to track the unsuspecting woman and showed the assailant gaining on her”.
At around 12.20am she attempted to send a text message but was grabbed from behind by the man who pushed her to the ground.
“Thinking she was being robbed, she thrust her phone in the direction of the man but he ignored this and continued to pin her down. A passing car disturbed the man and he fled on foot, heading north on Haggerston Road. The victim ran home and called police.
The man tackled her to the ground with so much force that her mobile telephone smashed and she injured her hand on the pavement. Her back was also jarred during the attack.
The second incident happened in the early hours of Friday, 12 May. A 35-year-old woman was walking home after a night out in Kingsland High Road. At around 12:30am she was walking on Hertford Road when she noticed a man on the opposite side of the road, walking 20 metres behind her.
“She kept walking but the man ran at her and pulled her to the ground. The victim screamed and drew the attention of a passing taxi driver who came to her aid. The suspect fled on foot towards Downham Road.
“The suspect in both incidents is described as a black man, between 5′ 6″ and 5′ 10″ tall and aged in his early 20s,” police said.
Nightmares
Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID, who is leading the investigation, under the operation name Meadow, said: “I am releasing further CCTV footage which will feature on Crimewatch in a bid to appeal for new witnesses or potential victims that have not already made themselves known to the investigation team.
The £10,000 enhanced reward from Crimestoppers demonstrates the utmost seriousness that we are treating these offences and our total commitment to identifying and arresting this offender. I am directly appealing to any of his associates, family members or even those with only mere suspicions as to his identity to contact us in confidence.
“Prior to these two attacks, the assailant may have followed other females in the area, perhaps making only minimal or even no contact.
Ridley urged any women “who have felt uncomfortable in the vicinity by the presence of a male matching the description of the attacker to come forward as a priority”, adding: “You may hold vital information.”
He continued: “I have been in contact with both victims this week. They remain very anxious and upset and one of the victims has had recurring nightmares.”
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact the Met Police or anonymously contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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