British Transport Police have released an image of a young man they want to speak to after a woman was sexually assaulted and then slapped at Baker Street Underground station.
The incident happened on July 4, shortly before 8.30pm, while the victim was walking through the busy central London station, the force said.
According to police, the woman was sexually assaulted as she made her way through the station. When she confronted the man, she was then slapped across the face. The victim has not been named.
The force issued its public appeal on Friday, September 25 — almost three months after the incident — alongside a CCTV image of the young man officers are trying to identify.
Detectives release image in witness appeal
Detectives believe the young man pictured could hold information that would assist their ongoing investigation. Officers describe him as someone who may be able to help with their enquiries, and are asking anyone who recognises him to come forward.
The young man is shown in a CCTV still released by the force as part of the appeal. Officers also want to hear from anyone else who may have witnessed what happened at the station that evening.
The appeal was issued by the British Transport Police, the national force responsible for policing the railways and the London Underground network.
It is not the first time the force has asked the public for help identifying someone caught on camera: officers previously released CCTV images after a serious assault at Liverpool Street station.
Concern over safety on the Tube
The case comes amid wider concern about safety on the Underground, after more than 5,500 assaults were reported on the network.
The Underground carries millions of passengers every day, and British Transport Police regularly urge passengers to report anything that makes them feel unsafe while travelling.
Baker Street is a major interchange in central London, used by large numbers of passengers travelling across the capital each day. The station, in Marylebone, dates back to 1863, when it opened as part of the world’s first underground railway.
How to contact police
Anyone who recognises the young man is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.
The 61016 number allows passengers to contact the force discreetly by text message.
Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Calls are free, and the charity says callers never have to give their name. The investigation is continuing, the force said.
