A teenage girl is believed to have been sexually assaulted on three separate occasions as she walked home from a night out in London.

Police say the 17-year-old was repeatedly attacked over the course of an hour after she became separated from friends following a visit to a club in Tower Hamlets.

Shortly before midnight on Friday 29 September, she was spotted on CCTV being carried by a man on Cambridge Heath Road.

The pair appeared to go into a doorway on the same road, after which the man was not seen again on camera.

Items of the girl's clothing were found nearby.


Image: Detectives say they are determined to catch the people responsible

A short time later, another CCTV camera showed the girl stumbling along Mint Street being followed by a bearded man on a racing bicycle.

Officers said the man followed her as she headed towards Bethnal Green Overground station.

When she was next spotted, the man had approached her and they had reached Corfield Street.

Some time later, the camera captured the man leaving the area and walking away.

The girl, with dishevelled clothing, emerged shortly afterwards and walked along Corfield Street.

CCTV released of sexual assault suspects

Minutes later, at about 12.45am, the victim is thought to have suffered a third attack - possibly involving two or three men.

A third, different man was seen walking down Corfield Street and joining two other figures under some trees. He appeared to bend down towards a spot on the kerb between some parked cars.

Detectives believe it was at this point that the victim was sexually assaulted.

A member of the public found the teenager lying on the ground in a state of distress and called 999.

Officers believe it is possible that she was drugged, and toxicology tests have been carried out.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Jordan said: "This is a horrific multiple sexual assault on a young female who was simply making her way home after a night out.

"We would like to thank the members of the public who intervened to help her and possibly prevented her ordeal from continuing even further.

"We believe two of the three were very serious sexual assaults indeed, and are determined to catch the persons responsible for these hideous crimes."

:: Anyone with information should call police on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or contact @MetCC on Twitter.