Teen jailed for raping girl in train station toilet

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

Tommi Harwood, 18, was sentenced to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl in a Romford station toilet in September 2024.

Tommi Harwood, 18, of Stanford-le-Hope, was sentenced to five years in prison on 9 October at Snaresbrook Crown Court for the rape of a 16-year-old girl at Romford station. The attack took place on 5 September 2024 when Harwood was 16 years old.

Harwood had contacted the girl on Snapchat using the name 'Bobby' and arranged to meet her when she was travelling on a train. After she arrived at Romford station, he led her to the waiting room and repeatedly asked her to check whether the women's toilets were empty. He then followed her into the toilet and raped her. After the attack, he told her: 'If we see police, run across the tracks.'

The girl reported the attack to British Transport Police the next day. A manhunt was launched but Harwood remained at large until 25 October, when he was stopped at Basildon station by rail staff for travelling without a valid ticket and arrested. The girl's account, combined with forensic and CCTV evidence, led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the rape charge. He was also given an indefinite restraining order and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

How it is being reported

• Essex teenager raped girl in train station toiletsThe pair met up after first speaking on social mediaEssexLive · 12 Oct, 16:45
• 'Abhorrent' - south Essex teen jailed after raping girl in train station toiletA teenager who raped a girl in a station toilet has been jailed.Echo (Basildon) · 12 Oct, 12:25

In this story: Tommi Harwood · Romford station · Basildon station · Stanford-le-Hope · Snaresbrook Crown Court · British Transport Police

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem