Police hunt for man after woman sexually assaulted and another robbed on busy street

Police are searching for a man after a woman was sexually assaulted on a busy road in Central London.

The City of London Police said on September 28 at approximately 8.05am, someone approached a woman outside the Old Bailey.

The man had a bottle of beer in his hand and shouted at her to hand over her phone.

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Feeling intimidated, the woman hand over her phone and he made his way to Little Britain where he stole a Santander bike from a cyclist.

At 8.25am, he then cycled past another woman who was walking between Leather Lane and Holborn Circus, and grabbed her bottom through her clothing.

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Detective Inspector Hannah Sydney, from the City of London Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “We are working hard to track down the man in these photos but we are appealing for the public’s help as we believe there may have been witnesses to these incidents.

“We want to reassure anyone visiting the City that we are conducting a full and thorough investigation into what happened as we want people to feel safe when they visit the City.”

“The suspect is described as a white man aged between 30 to 40 years old, with short hair, and he was wearing a red cap and casual blue clothing at the time of the incidents.”

Detective Inspector Sydney added: “If you have any information on this individual, please do get in touch. Any details, no matter how small, could prove significant in helping us track him down.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call 020 7601 2222 and quote 21000563055 for the robbery, 21000563596 for the theft of the Santander bike, or 21000563439 for the sexual assault.

Alternative, information can be provided via the public portal or by calling anonymous charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Is there a story we should be covering in your area of London? Email josh.bolton@reachplc.com.