Police have released an e-fit image of a sex attacker they are hunting in east London, as they warn he may have struck more than once.
A 24-year-old woman was subjected to a "serious sexual assault" after a night out in Newham.
Detectives have revealed the woman was attacked shortly after returning home from a night out with a friend at around 2:30am on Friday, 3 June.
The incident happened shortly after the woman stopped at a McDonalds restaurant on Silvertown Way, E16.
The restaurant was closed to the public and the victim decided to head home.
Detectives said that, as she made her way home through the adjacent car park, she was approached by an unknown man and sexually assaulted.
She managed to scream and alert her friend, who is was still nearby, prompting her attacker to flee in the direction of a nearby Morrisons supermarket.
The woman has described the suspect as being of Asian appearance and possibly aged in his mid to late 30s. He wore glasses and had a light coloured beard.
The Met has released this e-fit in the hope that someone recognises the suspect
Met Police
Detective Constable Matt Wilson, from the Met's North East Safeguarding Unit, said:
"This was a terrifying attack on a woman in the middle of the night.
"She bravely managed to call out for help and in doing so caused her attacker to run away, but not before she was sexually assaulted.
“Given the time of night, the car park was not busy, but we do know there were some people in the area, including delivery drivers waiting to collect orders from McDonalds.
"We also know there was a white van parked in the car park at the time.
The detective has urged anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious to come forward.
"I’d also encourage anyone who thinks they recognise the person depicted in the e-fit image to get in touch." He added.
“We take incidents such as this extremely seriously and will follow any possible line of enquiry presented to us.
“While we have no information at this stage to indicate that this man has struck before, we cannot rule out the possibility.
"I would urge anyone who has been the victim of an assault of this nature, no matter when it took place, to call the police.
“We have specialist officers who will take your concerns seriously and provide support throughout the investigation and any judicial process that follows.”
Anyone with information is being urged to call the police, or they call the Crimestoppers charity confidentially on 0800 555 111.
