Police Issue E-Fit After Sexual Assault In Wilkinson Way

Extensive enquiries fail to trace offender and possible witness

Ealing Borough Police would like to appeal for help in identifying a male suspect who police believe is responsible for an incident of sexual assault, which occurred in an alleyway at the north end of Wilkinson Way which leads to Southfields Recreation Park, at approximately 19.45hrs on Wednesday 7th June 2006.

The victim, a 16 year old Asian female, was waiting at the 207 bus stop, on Acton high Street, between The Captain Cook Public House and Birkbeck Grove when the suspect approached her from behind.

The suspect pushed a sharp object into the victim’s back, stated he had a knife and demanded her mobile phone. The victim immediately handed her over mobile phone.  At this point the suspect led the victim away from the bus stop along High Street towards Shepherds Bush and right in Birkbeck Grove.

Whilst in Birkbeck Grove the victim has asked for her mobile phone back and the suspect has slapped her across the face. The suspect has then led the victim to the end of Birkbeck Grove, through an archway, which leads to the north end of Wilkinson Way, Chiswick and into an alleyway which leads to Southfields Recreation Park.

A short distance along the alleyway the suspect stopped, pushed the victim up against the wall and demanded oral sex. The victim refused and again asked for her phone to be returned.  The suspect initially refused and then indicated the victim could have her phone back once he had made a call and spoken to a friend.

The suspect then walked south along the alleyway, which runs to the side of Southfields Recreation Park, at which point another male has then appeared from an alley to the right and continued in the same direction as the suspect. 

A short time later the victim followed the suspect’s route, which led her back to Wilkinson Way where she saw the second male who had been seen in the alleyway. The victim approached him and asked if he had seen the suspect.  The man told her that he was not a friend of the suspect who he had last seen the suspect running southbound along Wilkinson Way heading towards Southfield Road.

A Police spokesperson said "There is no evidence to suggest the second male seen in the alleyway was in any way connected with the incident or indeed a friend of the suspect. However we are keen to speak to this male, as he may be able to help them with their enquiries. He is described as a Black Male, A/Age 20yrs, 5ft 08’, skinny build, large Afro style hair, clean-shaven wearing a red sleeveless top with the number 4 on the front and a blue flash symbol down the side."

The suspect is described as a black male, 20 - 25yrs old, 6’ 00 - 6’ 03”, large build, muscular arms, white teeth, clean-shaven, dark complexion with a rash on the back right hand side of his neck. He was wearing a grey baggy t-shirt, dark ¾ length trouser (possibly tracksuit bottoms), black Nike trainers and a very distinctive grey and blue baseball cap with the logo ‘EROS’ on the front.

The spokesperson continued “This was a deeply traumatic ordeal for the victim and we are treating this incident very seriously. We believe this male may possibly be from the Acton or Shepherds Bush area and may frequent Acton regularly as he had a good knowledge of the area where the incident took place. We are anxious to trace him and would ask anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, to contact us.”

Extensive enquires by police have failed to trace the offender which has led to police releasing this appeal in the hope that someone may recognise the suspect.  The victim did not receive any injuries apart from some slight reddening to the face from being slapped by the suspect. At no point during her ordeal did the victim see what sharp object the suspect pushed into the victim’s back.  This incident is not linked to any other sexual offences in the area.

September 29, 2006