No rape took place outside Epsom church, say police

2 hours ago 2

Julia Gregory/BBC A church built with stone. There is a sign in front of the building.Julia Gregory/BBC

A woman in her 20s initially reported that she had been raped outside Epsom Methodist Church on 11 April

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

Getty Images Police are seen on Epsom high street as people come out to protest after a woman was raped last Saturday on April 15, 2026 in Epsom.Getty Images

Protesters took to the streets demanding to know whether any suspects had been identified

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

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".

Getty Images Police are seen on Epsom high street as people come out to protest Getty Images

Five protesters have now been arrested on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage

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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