Teens groped by bus sex attacker
Mar 3 2006
Ben Ashford
A BRUTAL sex attacker has struck at least three times on the same bus route.
The beast has groped two teenage girls and pounced on a third young woman on board the No 75 route through Lewisham.
When one 17-year-old victim fought back he spat on her, followed her off the bus and punched her in the face in broad daylight.
Police believe the fiend has struck before and say his attacks are becoming increasingly violent.
He has used the same sordid technique each time – cunningly engaging his victims in friendly chat before groping them.
CCTV pictures and an e-fit of a man who cops want to question were released yesterday.
Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards, from the Met’s Operation Sapphire sex crime unit, said: “This man has become increasingly violent during his attacks.
“He has also shown the confidence to commit such crimes on a busy bus in daylight, suggesting he has little concern about being caught.
“I believe there may be other victims out there who have yet to come forward.”
The first attack happened on November 10 when the beast befriended a young woman on the No 75, which runs from Lewisham to Croydon, then sexually assaulted her.
On February 4 he boarded the same bus at Lewisham bus depot and chatted to an 18-year-old before groping her.
Later that morning he approached a girl of 17 who got on in Sydenham and attacked her too.
In a chilling escalation of violence, he spat on the girl when she complained and punched her in the face after chasing her into the street.
Cops believe he has since been spotted in the Selhurst area of Croydon.
DS Edwards added: “I would strongly urge anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this man, or who believes they know his identity, to come forward as soon as possible.”
Information on the pervert to Operation Sapphire on 020 8649 1379 (number corrected from original copy) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
