Surrey Police have closed the investigation into an alleged rape outside a church in Epsom, stating they are now confident no offence occurred. The probe was launched on Saturday, April 11, after a woman in her 20s reported being raped near a church in the early hours after leaving Labyrinth nightclub.
Investigation Findings
Following a thorough investigation, police determined the woman had suffered an accidental head injury during a night out, leading to a confused report. A police spokesperson said: "At the early stages, we issued an appeal for witnesses. There was a lack of information in our initial appeal because descriptions were vague. We recognise this caused concern. We are now confident there was no offence and no suspects."
Detectives conducted an extensive examination of CCTV footage, house-to-house inquiries, witness interviews, and forensic tests. The force emphasised: "We take every report of sexual offending seriously. To do this, appropriate time must be allowed for a thorough investigation and to support the complainant. This limits what information we can release publicly."
Protests and Public Disorder
Public anger over the lack of suspect ethnicity details led to several protests. On Monday, clashes erupted between protesters and police, with eggs and beer cans thrown at officers. Four people were arrested. Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend condemned the actions as "shameful" and warned those travelling from outside Epsom to cause trouble: "My message to those intent on stirring up trouble under the guise of legitimate protest is: stay away from Epsom. If you involve yourself in disorder, the police will take robust action."
A second protest on April 15 saw a large crowd gather in the town centre, with police in riot gear facing objects thrown at them. The protest was promoted online by Danny Tommo, a former associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.
