Police Release CCTV of Suspect in Chilling Hotel Abduction Case
Detectives hunting a man who abducted and raped two women have revealed CCTV footage showing him trying to book a hotel room in Watford. The images were snapped around 1pm on Thursday, 25 April, sparking a frantic manhunt.
Man Arrested But Hunt for Rapist Continues
A 33-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday, 28 April, on suspicion of conspiracy to rape and taken into custody at a west London police station. Despite the arrest, police warn the hunt is far from over.
Two Women Abducted Hours Apart in North London
- The first woman was snatched from a street in Chingford at about 12:30am on 25 April.
- The second was taken from Edgware just 12 hours later at 12:15pm.
- The suspect then drove both women to a Watford hotel and tried to book a room.
- With no room available, he left, but a violent struggle unfolded at 2:30pm on Osborne Road, where the women escaped.
Suspect Description and Distinctive Tattoo
- White male, muscular build, late 20s to early 30s.
- Bald or with shaved blond hair and light-coloured short beard.
- Has a distinctive tattoo on his stomach: the name ‘bobbie’.
- Was driving a silver or grey Ford S-Max people carrier with false plates.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: “Our investigation into these appalling crimes is making good progress, but we urgently need the public’s help to identify this man. Does this man look familiar? Do you know anyone with a ‘bobbie’ tattoo on their stomach?”
“Did you see a man matching this description in Chingford or Edgware on 25 April? We believe he travelled around north London and Hertfordshire that day and may have interacted with others.”
“If you spot a suspicious car matching this description, call the police immediately. Do not approach the suspect if you see him – call 999.”
“Anyone with information can remain anonymous via Crimestoppers. It’s vital we catch this man. While attacks like this are thankfully rare, stay vigilant.”
The two women, both in their 20s, are traumatised and being supported by specialist officers. The investigation is led by Homicide and Major Crime Command with Hertfordshire Police backing up the case.
If you have information, contact the incident room on 0208 785 8244, call 999 quoting CAD 3041/25Apr, tweet @MetCC, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
