Police are looking for witnesses and information after a 14-year-old girl was struck on the head whilst aboard a bus in Harrow.
Officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command have issued images of a man they want to trace following three unprovoked assaults, the first of which happened in Edgware.
Met Police said: “The first assault happened at about 08:40hrs on Wednesday, 11 November 2020, when a 14-year-old girl was travelling on a route 83 bus to school through Edgware.
“Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the man sitting behind her started to strike her across the back of her head. The man then got up and walked to the bus stairs, shouted abuse at her and then left the bus.
“Thankfully the young girl was not seriously injured, but she was left shocked and very distressed.
“The second assault took place later that same day at about 12:30hrs outside a supermarket on Coppetts Centre, Barnet, N12.
“The suspect was believed to be attempting to shoplift in the store and was escorted from the premises by staff.
“Outside the store and without warning, he struck a member of staff, a woman in her early 50s, on the back of her head.
“She was not seriously injured.
“The third assault happened the next day at about 19:50hrs, when a 48-year-old off-duty bus driver was on a 221 bus in Edgware.
“The driver was finishing his tour, wearing his bus driver uniform and just sitting in a passenger seat when, for no apparent reason, he was punched, grabbed by the throat and kicked.
“The assailant then made off leaving the victim bruised and shaken.
“As a result of police enquires the same suspect has been linked to all three incidents and police urgently want to trace the man.
“The man has been described as about 5ft 10ins, aged 30 to 35 and of medium build. He was wearing a green camouflage baseball jacket with letters on the back in capitals ‘DFYNT’ and the numbers 00 below.”
PC Paul Harris who leads the investigation said: “We have linked all these incident and the unprovoked nature of the assaults gives us cause for concern. This man’s clothing is very distinctive and I am sure someone will recognise him. We urgently want to trace this man and I would ask anyone who can identify him, not to approach him, but call police immediately.”
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 7212/12NOV.
To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
