Police appeal following spate of unusual attacks

Police are appealing for information and witnesses following a spate of random attacks on members of the public in the Chiswick area of West London. These include a woman who had her hair spray-painted red and a man who had a box of fruit smashed. They have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to in connection with these incidents. The first incident happened at around 12:20pm on Tuesday, 28 June, at British Grove, W4. A 25-year-old woman was waiting at the location to take delivery of a parcel when a man approached her and spray-painted her hair red before making off.



There were five further offences reported to police on the same day. At 12:39pm officers were informed that a man had wandered into the middle of the street at Cranbrook Road, Chiswick and exposed himself. At 1:00pm there was a report made to police that a man had punched a 19-year-old man in the face in Cranbrook Road, Chiswick and made off. At 1:30pm officers were alerted to an incident at Chiswick High Road where a 32-year-old man had been punched in the back by a male suspect who then made off. At 2:00pm officers were informed of a racially aggravated assault at Essex Place, W4.

A 27-year-old black woman stated she had been racially abused by a white man who then threw a plastic bottle in her face before making off. At 2:30pm officers were informed that a suspect had sprayed graffiti on a van in Chiswick High Road. The following day, Wednesday, 29 June, an incident occurred at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre at 7:40pm. The victim was walking out of the leisure centre when a man approached him and knocked a box of fruit he was carrying out of his hand. The suspect then picked the fruit up and threw it at the victim before making off. The offences are all being linked by locality, nature of the incident and description of the individual involved.



The CCTV footage was recovered from the scene of the first assault on Tuesday, 28 June at British Grove in Chiswick. The man is described as a white man, aged between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 5ft 11ins tall and of medium build. He was wearing a dark jacket, blue and white check/stripped shirt and light shorts. He was carrying a large blue 'IKEA' style bag. He was also seen carrying a red rucksack. Detective Inspector Tom Dahri, from Hounslow CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are treating these incidents very seriously and extensive enquiries continue to trace the suspect. I would urge anyone who has information that could assist this investigation, or anyone who knows who is responsible, to contact police. Please do not approach this man if you see him."