Man jailed five years for raping girl at train station

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 07:19 · Archive

An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl at Romford station in September 2024.

Tommi Harwood, 18, of Stanford-le-Hope, was sentenced to five years in prison on 9 October at Snaresbrook Crown Court after a five-day trial.

Harwood had messaged a 16-year-old girl on Snapchat on 5 September 2024, using the name 'Bobby'. When she told him she was on a train, he asked to meet her at Romford station. He met her on the platform just after 8pm, then led her into a waiting room and repeatedly asked her to check whether anyone was in the women's toilets. When she used the toilets, he followed her in and raped her. After returning to the platform, he told the victim, 'if we see police, run across the tracks'.

The girl reported what happened to British Transport Police the following day. A manhunt followed but Harwood was not found until 25 October, when rail staff stopped him at Basildon station for travelling without a valid ticket. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Forensic evidence, CCTV footage and the victim's testimony supported the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to authorise the rape charge. At sentencing, Harwood also received an indefinite restraining order and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

How it is being reported

• 'Abhorrent' 18-year-old boy jailed after raping teenage girl in UK train station toiletsThe teenager has been jailed after the girl reported the incident to police after he followed her into the women's toilet and raped her - it has been described as a 'premeditated' and 'abhorrent' attackThe Mirror · 13 Oct, 06:59
• Moment rapist smirks to himself before attacking girl, 16, in train station toiletsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A teenager has been jailed for five years after smirking at a CCTV camera before sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. After a five-day trial at…Metro · 12 Oct, 18:15

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

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