Police on urgent manhunt for bike-riding sex beast chasing lonely women as 22 are attacked

Police have issued an E-Fit based on the attacker’s descriptions and are asking all other victims who were attacked in the Hackney Marshes area to come forward

Police have released an e-fit of a sex attacker believed to be roaming around London’s Hackney Marshes and has so far carried out 22 attacks on women.

All of the women described being approached by a man on a bicycle while they were walking or jogging before the cyclist either grabbed their buttocks from behind or touched their genitals before making inappropriate comments.

Between February and June this year, police took 22 complaints from women who were assaulted by the man, but suspect the number could be much higher.

From the victims’ descriptions, police used Electronic Facial Identification Technique (E-FIT) to create a computer-generated image of the suspect.

Investigators are urging any women who have not yet spoken to police to contact them.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned male, possibly mixed race, aged 16/17, usually wearing a gray tracksuit.

Detective Constable Hannah Rodericks of the Central East Command Unit determined.

She said: “I understand that this news may cause significant concern in the community. We at the Central East Command Unit share this concern and are doing everything we can to identify and bring to justice the person responsible.

“It is imperative that he is identified, but we need the public’s help. Anyone with information they believe may help us is urged to get in touch immediately.”

Police have now urged anyone with information to come forward – and any other women to speak up if they have experienced similar abuse in the area.

In January nearly 200 women shared their experiences as part of the Women Safety in Public Spaces in Hackney project, launched by Hackney Council on 25 November 2021.

Many of the comments were left by women who feel unsafe in certain areas of the borough at night, saying they are “too dark” or “deserted” or because “gangs of men are regularly loitering”.

But the more serious incidents that have been recorded range from women being subjected to verbal abuse and harassment, to mugging, assault and “assaults,” including a woman who said she was “grabbed from behind” while out for a walk last year been.

Anyone with information that might help the police should call 101 ref. 4216097/22.

Alternatively, you can tweet @MetCC or, to remain 100 percent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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