Police are trying to identify the man in this CCTV footage after a doctor shoved to the floor and left with a broken tooth on her way home from work.
The 37-year-old victim was waiting to board the Docklands Light Railway from Shadwell Station, east London when she noticed a man she did not know appeared to be following her at around 6.16pm on April 17.
Both she and the suspect boarded the train and the doctor became so concerned she got off at Canning Town before quickly re-boarding in a bid to lose the man. But it was no use as the stalker mirrored her actions.
When she got off at Royal Victoria DLR Station the man was still on her tail. The doctor ended up asking two men she did not know to walk with her in fear of what might happen next, but the suspect didn’t stop.
The men walked with her part of the way before their journeys took them in different directions, at which point the victim decided to call the police as she walked along Butchers Road in the Canning Town area.
Even though she was still on the phone, the man approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground.
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She was taken to hospital with cuts, bruising and injuries to her mouth including a broken tooth.
The assailant is believed to have fled the scene, returning in the direction of Royal Victoria DLR Station.
Police are keeping an open mind as to the motive of the attack but there is nothing to suggest the woman was targeted specifically because she is a member of the NHS. None of her property was taken.
The suspect is described as a black man, aged around 20, who was wearing grey jogging bottoms, a dark cap, and a grey hooded to top under a dark jacket.
No arrests have been made and inquiries led by North East Command CID continue.
Detective Constable Alister Kim said: ‘We have no reason to believe that the victim in this case was targeted specifically because she was a doctor or working for the NHS.
‘However, we would urgently seek the public’s help in identifying this man. The victim was subjected to a frightening ordeal, having been followed along the transport network by this suspect who did not leave her alone, even after she sought help from members of the public and made a call to police.
‘I am appealing to anyone who may have seen any part of this incident, either at Shadwell DLR Station, on the DLR itself, or when the victim got off and walked to Butchers Road from Royal Victoria Station.
‘Or did you perhaps see the actions of the victim as she got off and back on the train at Canning Town, followed by the suspect? In particular we are very keen to speak to the two witnesses who helped the victim on her journey home.
‘CCTV footage shows a man walking in Commercial Road near its junction with Sidney Street prior to the incident. If anyone recognises this man I would urge them to get in touch.’
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