Serial sex attacker targeting lone women joggers in London hunted by police

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Detectives are hunting a sex attacker following a string of assaults on lone female runners in London.

The most recent took place in Bridgehouse Meadows, Lewisham, on 5 April this year and police believe two earlier incidents may have been committed by the same man.

One happened on 18 December 2017 in the same place and the first occurred on 6 May last year in Musgrove Road, New Cross.

On that occasion a woman jogging alone at about 8.30pm noticed a man running some 10m behind her with a phone to his ear, following her.

Shortly afterwards she felt him grab her buttocks and try to pull her back, before he ran away towards Pepys Road, the Metropolitan Police said.

In both the Bridgehouse Meadows attacks the man involved was described as black, in his early- to mid-20s, slim and about 6ft tall.

The Met said in a statement: “In view of the similar descriptions, locations and offences, officers believe all three sexual assaults may have been committed by the same suspect.

“Police believe it is possible he may have committed other offences and encourage anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault to report any offences to police.”

Detective Constable Rachel Blackwell, of the force’s child abuse and sexual offences command, is leading the investigation.

Her team has released a CCTV image, above, of a man they want to speak to in connection with the New Cross attack.

Anyone with information should call the Met on 07920 540 617 or 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555 quoting the reference CAD 5125/06JUN18.