Epsom reverend where woman was ‘gang raped’ outside hits out at ‘intimidating’ protests

The Reverend of a church near where a woman was allegedly raped by several men has condemned protesters who clashed with police.

The victim, aged in her 20s, said she was followed from the Labyrinth nightclub and then attacked outside Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road between 2am and 4am on Saturday.

A large crowd of protesters clashed with police in Epsom town centre on Tuesday demanding more information about the men and for CCTV to be released.

People blasted ‘Sweet Caroline’ over boomboxes as teenagers threw dirt and cones at riot police as they shut down traffic. One man punches a riot shield in anger.

There were no arrests last night.

Reverend Catherine Hutton told Metro she was holding ‘a service of hope’ to bring the community together in its condemnation of the attack and in support of the victim. 

She said: ‘This attack on a young woman is horrendous and whoever carried it out needs to be brought to justice. 

‘The violence against women and girls we see is utterly disgusting, and no one should fear walking home after a night out. 

‘We are going to hold a service of hope to bring the community in Epsom together.

‘It’s a diverse, tolerant community to see protesters attacking police was awful.’

She said she had come from Epsom Station and came across the ‘intimidating’ protesters.

She added: ‘It was mainly men and it was intimidating for women. On footage I saw, they were targeting a woman police officer. 

‘Of course I support the right to protest, but this went too far.

‘The police must be allowed to do their job and investigate. I think a lot of the protesters came from outside Epsom.’

Epsom MP Helen Maguire said she was ‘appalled’ by the attack on the young woman and planned to attend the church service on Thursday. 

Police have urged people not to speculate the identity of the suspects. 

They added: ‘This may lead to additional tensions within our local communities.’

Danny Tommo, taking time out of Operation Overlord filming migrants across the Channel, was leading the protest, shouting through a loudhailer.

Before the protest, he secretly filmed himself confronting a police woman: ‘There are a bunch of gang rapists walking about. Normally, there is a press conference.

‘Say if there is a fire in a mosque all the police come out and say everything’s going to be ok.

‘But it has been four days, a woman is sitting in hospital after being gang rapoed. They could be walking around, it could be him, or him.

‘Women don’t want to let their kids outside.’

He mistakenly calls Epsom Epping throughout the video.

There were clashes with police in Epping last year after Ethiopian migrant school Hadush Kebatu living in the Bell Hotel carried out a sex attack on a schoolgirl.

Speaking to crowds of people stopping traffic in Epsom through a megaphone, he said: ‘[Police] knew within 12 hours exactly who did this to that girl down that road. They know right now. How long are they going to wait?

‘We demand a police officer comes here right now and gives us an update.’

After the protest, he wrote on X: ‘The pressure has worked. After days of silence, the gathering of residents has forced the Superintendent of Surrey Police to panic and finally agree to a face-to-face meeting this evening

‘He will now speak directly with local Epsom residents and release the information that should have been provided days ago. This is the next stage. Stay strong.’

Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman said: ‘We respect the right to lawful protest and will facilitate this wherever possible, where it is safe to do so. 

‘However, criminal offences and public disorder will not be tolerated, and we will always take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.’