New Suspect in Investigation into Chiswick Attacks
After police eliminate missing sex offender Vitalij Kovaliov
Police are appealing for information about a spate of random attacks in the Chiswick area, after eliminating missing sex offender Vitalij Kovaliov as a suspect.
They have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to in connection with these incidents.
The first incident happened at around 12.20pm on Tuesday, 28 June, at British Grove, W4. A 25-year-old woman was waiting at the location to take delivery of a parcel when a man approached her and spray-painted her hair red before making off.
This was followed by five further offences on the same afternoon:
Around 20 minutes later at 12.30pm officers were informed that a man had wandered into the middle of the street at Cranbrook Road, Chiswick and exposed himself.
At 1pm there was a report that a man had punched a 19 year-old man in the face in Cranbrook Road, Chiswick and made off.
At 1.30pm officers were alerted to an incident at Chiswick High Road where a 32-year-old man had been punched in the back by a male suspect.
At 2pm officers were informed of a racially aggravated assault at Essex Place, W4. A 27 year-old black woman said she had been racially abused by a white man who then threw a plastic bottle in her face.
At 2.30pm officers were informed that a suspect had sprayed graffiti on a van in Chiswick High Road.
The following day, Wednesday, 29 June, at 7.40pm a man was walking out of Brentford Fountain Leisure when another man approached him and knocked a box of fruit he was carrying out of his hand. The suspect then picked the fruit up and threw it at the victim.
The offences are all being linked by locality, nature of the incident and description of the individual involved.
The CCTV footage was recovered from the scene of the first assault on Tuesday, 28 June at British Grove in Chiswick.
The man is described as a white man, aged between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 5ft 11ins tall and of medium build. He was wearing a dark jacket, blue and white check/stripped shirt and light shorts. He was carrying a large blue IKEA style bag. He was also seen carrying a red rucksack.
Vitalij Kovaliov, 35, a registered sex offender who absconded while on escorted leave in King Street from the Claybrook Centre was initially sort in connection with the attacks. However, while he remains outstanding he has now been eliminated as a suspect.
Detective Inspector Tom Dahri, from Hounslow CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "Whilst Kovaliov has now been eliminated as a suspect, a man still remains outstanding for these offences. The man is suspected of being involved in seven offences so far.
"We are treating these incidents very seriously and extensive enquiries continue to trace the suspect. I would urge anyone who has information that could assist this investigation, or anyone who knows who is responsible, to contact police. Please do not approach this man if you see him."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 020 8247 6160 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Kovaliov, who is known to be violent is described as a white man, between 5ft 11ins and 6ft 1in tall and of a medium build.
The public have been warned not to approach him, members of the public should immediately contact police via 999 if they see him. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Kovaliov is asked to contact police via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
July 14, 2016