Tommi Harwood, 18, from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, has been sentenced to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl in toilets at Romford station. Harwood, who was also 16 at the time of the attack, met the victim after messaging her on Snapchat using the fake name "Bobby".
He told the girl to meet him at Romford station on September 5, 2024. CCTV from the rail hub shows Harwood smirking as he waits for her train to arrive on the platform. He met the girl just after 8pm and led her to a waiting room, where he asked her to check if there was anyone in the women's toilets. He followed her in when she went to the loo and carried out the rape.
Arrest after fare-dodging stop
After the attack, Harwood told the girl, "If we see police, run across the tracks," when they returned to the platform. The youngster reported the ordeal to police, and British Transport Police (BTP) detectives met her the next day. A manhunt was launched, but Harwood was not tracked down until he was spotted by chance some eight weeks later.
He was seen at Basildon station on October 25 after being stopped for fare-dodging by station staff. Officers can be heard telling him in footage of his arrest that he shows up as wanted. Harwood can be seen looking away from the camera, saying: "Man's being bagged, G." Another clip shows him add: "The only thing is, I've only had problems with British Transport Police."
Sentencing and police response
Thanks to the girl's detailed account, CCTV and forensic evidence, Harwood was charged with rape. He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 9 to five years in prison, an indefinite restraining order and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Det Cons Ross McAlpine from British Transport Police said: "The young victim has shown tremendous courage, not only by speaking up and reporting what happened to her, but by supporting our enquiries and the court proceedings that followed." He said the woman has been supported throughout BTP's investigation by specialist officers and he hoped the fact her attacker is behind bars brings her some sense of justice.
Mr McAlpine added: "Harwood’s attack was premeditated and frankly abhorrent. Through his actions, he has shown that he poses a very real threat to women and girls. Tackling sexual offending is a top priority for us at BTP. I would urge anyone who experiences or witnesses this offending to report it to us by texting 61016 or dialling 999 in an emergency. Just as we have in this case, we’ll stop at nothing to put dangerous sex offenders before the courts."
If something sexual happened to you without your consent, support is available at the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222.
