CCTV released after NHS doctor attacked on way home from shift

Detectives looking for witnesses who saw suspect follow medic on her commute home

Police have released CCTV footage of a man wanted in connection with a "frightening" attack on a doctor on her way home from work.

The victim was followed by a man during her commute on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in east London on the evening of 17 April.

Despite trying to get away from him and asking others on the train to walk with her, the man shoved her to the ground from behind after she left Royal Victoria station.

The 37-year-old doctor was taken to hospital cuts and bruising to her mouth. Some of her teeth were also knocked out in the assault.

Detectives investigating the attack have released CCTV footage of a man they want to identify and are also trying to trace the two other men who walked with the victim from the station until shortly before the attack.

The suspect is a black man aged around 20, who was wearing grey jogging bottoms, a grey hooded jumper, a dark jacket and dark-coloured cap at the time of the attack.

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.”

After she noticed she was being followed on the DLR, the doctor attempted to give her attacker the slip by pretending to leave the train at Canning Town before reboarding at the last moment, but failed to throw him off her trail.

At the moment she was shoved to the floor on Butchers Road, close to Royal Victoria station, she was on the phone to the police.

Scotland Yard said they were keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the attack and were keen to speak with people who may have witnessed any of the events that evening.

Mr Kim said: “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.”

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Metropolitan Police by calling 101 and using the reference CAD 6121/17 Apr.