Tommi Harwood, 18, was sentenced to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl at Romford station in September 2024. He was also issued an indefinite restraining order and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Tommi Harwood, 18, of Andersons in Stanford-le-Hope, has been sentenced to five years in prison for raping a teenage girl at Romford train station. The sentencing took place on Friday, October 9, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, following a five-day trial in which Harwood was found guilty of rape.
The attack occurred on September 5, 2024. At the time, both Harwood and the victim were 16 years old. According to police reports, Harwood had been messaging the girl on Snapchat, introducing himself as "Bobby." During their conversation, the victim mentioned she was on a train, and Harwood arranged to meet her at Romford station.
The train arrived at the station just after 8pm. Harwood met the victim on the platform and led her into a waiting room, where he repeatedly asked her to check if anyone was inside the women’s toilets. When the victim entered the toilet, Harwood followed her and raped her. Afterward, they returned to the platform, where Harwood reportedly told the victim, "If we see police, run across the tracks."
The victim reported the incident to British Transport Police (BTP) the following day. A manhunt was launched to locate Harwood, but initial efforts were unsuccessful. On October 25, 2024, Harwood was spotted at Basildon station, where he was stopped by rail staff for travelling without a valid ticket. He was promptly arrested and taken into custody for interview.
The investigation was led by the BTP Major, Serious and Organised Crime (MSOC) team. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized the rape charge based on the victim’s detailed account, forensic evidence, and CCTV footage. Metro reported that CCTV footage showed Harwood smiling at a camera on the platform before the attack.
In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Harwood was handed an indefinite restraining order and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
BTP Detective Constable Ross McAlpine commented on the case, stating, "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."
McAlpine described the attack as "premeditated and frankly abhorrent," adding, "Through his actions, he has shown that he poses a very real threat to women and girls." He urged anyone who experiences or witnesses sexual offending to report it to BTP by texting 61016 or dialling 999 in an emergency.
This case highlights the risks associated with meeting individuals arranged through social media platforms like Snapchat. It also demonstrates the role of forensic evidence and CCTV in securing convictions for sexual offenses committed in public transport hubs. The sentencing underscores the severity with which UK courts treat premeditated sexual violence against minors.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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