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Metropolitan Police have launched an urgent appeal to locate a man wanted for questioning after two separate incidents of rape against lone women. Despite occurring four years apart and in different areas of London, investigators have linked the two attacks and suspect that the perpetrator may have carried out additional assaults.
The assaults took place in Westminster in 2018 and Shoreditch in 2022, with forensic analysis confirming that the same unidentified man is responsible for both crimes. Police are urging potential victims to come forward and are seeking information from anyone who may recognize or have knowledge of the attacker.
The first assault occurred around 2:50 am on Saturday, May 5, 2018, near The Strand in Westminster. Despite extensive investigations, including the analysis of hours of CCTV footage and the release of an E-fit image, the suspect remained unidentified.
In the second incident, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, December 10, 2022, the victim was raped on Curtain Road, E2, in Shoreditch. CCTV footage of a man of interest has been released to the public as part of the ongoing investigation.
Detective Inspector Chris Heathcote, leading the investigation, emphasized the urgent need for information: “These two offences were initially investigated by separate teams given the distance between the two incidents, however, we have since been able to forensically link the same individual to both offences.
He added, “Given the four-year gap, we must assume that it’s highly likely the suspect has carried out further attacks. A review of all unsolved rapes for this time period has identified no links to these two offences, but I would appeal to anyone who feels they have been a victim to come forward.”
DI Heathcote stressed that the suspect appears to target lone women in the nighttime economy, urging anyone with information to come forward: “Any information – no matter how small – could help us with our investigation.”
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Metropolitan Police at 101, quoting CAD 6163/26MAR24.
