Woman ‘raped by a man she just met’ in Wandsworth park close to primary school

King George’s Park (The Wandle Trail)
King George’s Park (The Wandle Trail)

A young woman was raped by a man she met minutes earlier at a park in south west London, police said.

The victim, in her 20s, was lured into an alleyway leading into King George’s Park, which spans from Wandsworth town centre to Earlsfield and Southfields.

Metropolitan Police officers were alerted to reports of a sexual assault at 4pm on Monday.

A 21-year-old male arrested on suspicion of rape remains in custody.

Scotland Yard added enquiries are ongoing.

A spokesman said: “The victim, aged in her 20s, had been sexually assaulted by a male she met earlier.

“She is being supported by specialist officers.”

Crime scene remains in King George’s Park near Wandsworth town centre (Wild London)
Crime scene remains in King George’s Park near Wandsworth town centre (Wild London)

A crime scene remains in place around the 55-acre park opened in 1923 by the late King George V.

Popular with families and close to Greenwood Wandle nursery, the large open space has tennis courts, children’s play areas and a bowling green.

It is also an important wildlife corridor for birds such as kingfishers, small mammals and bats. The River Wandle running through the park is rich in aquatic creatures and home to numerous fish species, including the brown trout.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101, quoting reference CAD7123/4NOV.