Metropolitan Police detectives are utilizing sophisticated DNA techniques to identify potential relatives of a suspect in two stranger rapes that occurred four years apart. The police have released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak with in connection with the assaults, and Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
The first alleged rape happened in May 2020 near the Thames Path in Thamesmead, southeast London. The second attack is reported to have occurred on June 19, 2024, in a derelict area on Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, also in southeast London.
Investigators are examining a list of individuals who share familial DNA with the suspect, a list compiled by the National Crime Agency. Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Hendrick, who is leading the investigation, stated that the perpetrator targeted two vulnerable women in daylight hours in residential areas.
"Investigations of this nature are extremely rare and our priority since the launch of the first investigation has been to support the victims and identify the man responsible," Hendrick said. She noted that previous public appeals, including the release of a CCTV image of a man in a white vest, jeans, and white trainers, had not yet identified the suspect.
The Met has recirculated these images, hoping that someone will recognize the individual and provide assistance. Alexa Loukas, regional manager for Crimestoppers in Greater London, emphasized that members of the public might possess crucial information and that reporting it to Crimestoppers is entirely anonymous.
Anyone with information that could identify the man or shed light on the incidents is encouraged to contact the police on 101, tweet @MetCC with reference CAD 3842/30JUN2026, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.