Epsom Church Leader Decries 'Intimidating' Protests Following Alleged Sexual Assault
The Reverend of a church near where a woman was allegedly gang raped by multiple men has strongly condemned protesters who clashed violently with police in Epsom town centre. Reverend Catherine Hutton of Epsom Methodist Church expressed deep concern over the intimidating nature of the demonstrations, which erupted as demands grew for more information about the suspects and the release of CCTV footage.
Details of the Alleged Attack and Community Response
The victim, a woman in her twenties, reported being followed from the Labyrinth nightclub and then assaulted outside Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road between 2am and 4am on Saturday. In response to the horrific incident, Reverend Hutton announced plans to hold 'a service of hope' to unite the community in condemning the attack and supporting the victim.
'This attack on a young woman is absolutely horrendous and whoever carried it out needs to be brought to justice,' Reverend Hutton told Metro. 'The violence against women and girls we witness is utterly disgusting, and no one should fear walking home after a night out. We are going to hold a service of hope to bring the community in Epsom together.'
Violent Protests Erupt in Town Centre
On Tuesday, a large crowd of protesters descended on Epsom town centre, resulting in chaotic clashes with police officers. Demonstrators blasted 'Sweet Caroline' over boomboxes while teenagers threw dirt and traffic cones at riot police, who were forced to shut down traffic to maintain order. One angry protester was captured on video punching a riot shield during the confrontation.
Reverend Hutton, who encountered the protesters after arriving from Epsom Station, described the scene as 'awful' and 'intimidating,' particularly for women. 'It was mainly men and it was intimidating for women,' she explained. 'On footage I saw, they were targeting a woman police officer. Of course I support the right to protest, but this went too far. The police must be allowed to do their job and investigate properly.'
Political and Police Responses
Epsom MP Helen Maguire stated she was 'appalled' by the attack on the young woman and confirmed her intention to attend the church service scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, police authorities have urgently appealed to the public to refrain from speculating about the identity of the suspects, warning that such actions 'may lead to additional tensions within our local communities.'
Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman emphasized that while police respect the right to lawful protest, 'criminal offences and public disorder will not be tolerated, and we will always take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.'
Protest Leader's Demands and Aftermath
The protest was led by activist Danny Tommo, who shouted through a loudhailer demanding immediate information from police about the suspects. 'There are a bunch of gang rapists walking about,' Tommo declared in secretly filmed footage. 'Normally, there is a press conference. But it has been four days, a woman is sitting in hospital after being gang raped. They could be walking around.'
Following the demonstration, Tommo claimed on social media that 'the pressure has worked,' asserting that Surrey Police's Superintendent had agreed to a face-to-face meeting with local residents to release information that 'should have been provided days ago.'
Reverend Hutton expressed concern that many protesters may have come from outside Epsom, potentially exacerbating tensions in what she described as 'a diverse, tolerant community.' No arrests were made during Tuesday night's protests, but the incident has highlighted growing community anxiety about violent crime and police transparency in sexual assault cases.
