No rape took place outside Epsom church, say police

An investigation into a rape outside a church in Epsom has been closed after police concluded "no sexual offence had occurred".

Surrey Police said following its "thorough investigation" into the incident, which sparked protests and public disorder in the town, they now believe the woman concerned "sustained an accidental head injury" following a night out and made "a confused report".

A spokesperson added: "The woman involved has given us permission to share this information and she continues to be supported by the relevant services."

The force said it "takes every report of sexual offending seriously, each of which is treated with sensitivity".

The woman, who is in her 20s, initially reported that she had been raped outside Epsom Methodist Church in the early hours of 11 April, after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub.

The church's Reverend Catherine Hutton told Radio Surrey she felt a "huge sense of relief for the young woman" and hoped she found "full recovery".

She said she was relieved about the "definitive outcome" of the case.

"However, it doesn't negate the fact that feeling safe on our streets remains a high concern for women," she added.

"The recent protests have revealed some prejudices within society, which have been acted on in a way that has caused fear and victimisation.

"I just want to reiterate that every person deserves to be treated with respect and compassion."

Hutton said Epsom "would heal and move forward" with a "greater sense of community".

The incident prompted large groups of people to take to the streets demanding descriptions of the suspects.

However, police said they did not have "sufficient information" to give descriptions, and riot police were deployed.

Five people, aged between 15 and 23 from across Surrey and London, have now been arrested on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage after "missiles" were thrown at officers.

Local hotels and residential properties were also targeted over claims they were "housing people seeking asylum", which police called "wholly inaccurate information".

All five people arrested have been released on bail, a force spokesperson said.

The scenes were dubbed "shameful" and "mindless" by Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.

She said some of those involved were not local and blamed misinformation linking the case to asylum seekers or immigrants.

On Thursday, Surrey Police said it had carried out an "extensive examination of CCTV footage, house to house enquiries, interviewing witnesses and forensic tests".

It added that it was "imperative that the appropriate time be allowed" in order for that to happen, while "support is given to the complainant to progress inquiries at their own pace".

"This limits what information we are able to release publicly."

A spokesperson said that the "lack of information in our initial appeal, particularly regarding potential persons of interest, was because the descriptions given were vague and limited".

"We recognise this caused concern amongst the community, but we are now confident that there was no offence and no suspects."

They added that local officers would maintain "a visible presence" in Epsom over the coming days.

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