A £10,000 reward has been issued to anyone who can identify a man suspected of a trio of violent attacks on lone, vulnerable women.
The three attacks on December 4 and 13 and New Year’s Day all involved women between the ages of eighteen and 31 being left with severe head injuries.
A CCTV image of the suspected attacker was released last week and an investigation has been taken up by Scotland Yard’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command’s Complex Case team, led by Detective Supt Terry Sharpe.
Mr Sharpe, whose team took over the investigation on February 10, told the News he believed the attacks were linked because of “how similar the circumstances were behind all of the attacks”.
Asked if he had a message for the attacker, Mr Sharpe said: “To give themselves up quickly. It’s no longer a local enquiry, this case is with a specialist team.
“We will use all our resources and skill to identify this attacker. That should speak for itself.”
“All of these were vulnerable women walking alone after a night out, and all received very similar head injuries,” he said.
“Whether the attacks were sexually motivated or not is unclear, but we are keeping an open mind.”
The suspect attacked his first victim on Friday, December 4 in Commercial Way, Peckham at 1.15am. The 31-year-old woman, walking alone, was attacked from behind and suffered a head injury.
The second incident was on Sunday, December 13 on Hanover Park, SE15 at around 6.30am, when a 30-year-old woman was beaten unconsciousness and discovered lying in the street by a passer-by.
An eighteen-year-old was then attacked on New Year’s Day, sustaining injuries to her head and face in Deptford Church Street.
Mr Sharpe also confirmed that no more witnesses or alleged victims had come forward to give evidence since the Met Police’s first appeal was made last week.
“We want to get the message out to be aware and be safe and not to go out alone,” he said.
The £10,000 reward is offered by Crimestoppers, who can be contacted anonymously to help the police with information, or call the investigation team on 020 8217 6541.