Surrey Police have closed a rape investigation that sparked street protests and public disorder in Epsom, concluding that no sexual offence had taken place.
The woman, who is in her 20s, initially reported being raped outside Epsom Methodist Church in the early hours of April 11, after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub. Following what the force described as a "thorough investigation," including extensive CCTV analysis, house-to-house inquiries, witness interviews, and forensic testing, police determined she had "sustained an accidental head injury" and made "a confused report."
"The woman involved has given us permission to share this information and she continues to be supported by the relevant services," a force spokesperson said.
The original report triggered large-scale protests in the town, with groups taking to the streets and demanding suspect descriptions from police. Officers said they lacked "sufficient information" to release descriptions, and riot police were deployed. Local hotels and residential properties were also targeted by people claiming, falsely, that they were housing asylum seekers. Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend called the scenes "shameful" and "mindless," and blamed misinformation that had linked the case to immigrants.
Five people aged between 15 and 23, from across Surrey and London, were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage after missiles were thrown at officers. All five have been released on bail.
The church's vicar, Reverend Catherine Hutton, said she felt "a huge sense of relief for the young woman" and hoped she found full recovery. She welcomed the "definitive outcome" while noting it did not erase broader concerns. "It doesn't negate the fact that feeling safe on our streets remains a high concern for women," Hutton said. "The recent protests have revealed some prejudices within society, which have been acted on in a way that has caused fear and victimisation."
Hutton said she believed Epsom would "heal and move forward" with a "greater sense of community."
