The Metropolitan Police have launched extensive DNA enquiries across the country as they work to identify a man suspected of raping two vulnerable women in South London. The investigation centres on attacks in Thamesmead in May 2020 and Abbey Wood in June 2024, both of which took place in daylight in residential areas.
Detectives say the case has become one of the most complex of its kind, because the suspect has not yet been identified through ordinary policing routes. Instead, officers are using familial DNA analysis, a method that looks for possible biological relatives of a suspect rather than an exact direct match. The National Crime Agency compiled the list of men who share familial DNA with the unknown suspect, and officers have been travelling to locations across the UK to collect voluntary evidential samples from people who may be related.
CCTV has also played a key role in the inquiry. In the 2024 Abbey Wood attack, police say the suspect was captured on camera leading the victim to a derelict area shortly before the rape was reported. Investigators have now recirculated an image of a man they want to speak to, hoping someone may recognise him and come forward. The Met has continued to support both victims through specialist officers and partner agencies while the search continues.
Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Hendrick said the man “has targeted two very vulnerable women” and stressed that the priority remains supporting the victims and identifying the offender. She also described the inquiry as extremely rare, reflecting the difficulty of cases in which forensic evidence exists but the suspect’s identity remains unknown. A £10,000 reward is being offered by Crimestoppers for information given anonymously that leads to a conviction.
Police have urged anyone who recognises the man or has relevant information to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously. For south London residents, the case is a reminder that even long-running investigations can move forward when forensic work, witness information, and public appeals are combined.
