British Transport Police have launched an urgent public appeal following a violent sexual assault near a Surrey railway station. The incident, which detectives have described as "abhorrent," occurred late on the evening of Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Details of the Late-Night Attack
The attack took place at approximately 11pm in an alleyway close to Leatherhead railway station. According to investigators, a man approached the young woman and engaged her in conversation before violently assaulting her.
He struck her on the back of the head before raping her. Following the attack, both the victim and the suspect boarded a London-bound train, disembarking together at Cheam station.
CCTV Images Released in Investigation
In a bid to progress the enquiry, detectives have now released closed-circuit television images of a man they are eager to identify. They believe he may hold vital information that could assist their investigation.
The individual police wish to speak to is described as a Black man with dreadlocks. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a distinctive Nike sweatshirt featuring a white tick on the left side of the chest. He was also in possession of a black push bike.
Public Appeal for Information
The victim was later discovered by a member of the public, who found her lying beside the road outside Cheam station just before midnight. She has been receiving specialist support from officers.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Winters stated: "This was an abhorrent attack targeting a young woman late at night. The victim has been receiving specialist support as our investigation continues, and we are appealing to the public to assist our efforts to track down the man responsible."
He added: "If you know the man in the CCTV images, please contact us, as we believe he may be able to help us with our ongoing enquiries."
Anyone with information is urged to contact British Transport Police by:
- Texting 61016
- Calling 0800 40 50 40
When making contact, please quote reference number 380 of 26 August 2025. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
