Workers at Wanstead Tube station, where a deaf homeless woman was attacked, have spoken of their shock and sadness at the incident.

British Transport Police (BTP) on Monday (March 30) released CCTV images of a woman they wish to speak to in connection with an assault on the 33-year-old around 8.30pm on February 28.

The Guardian spoke to station workers who knew the victim.

Vikram Morzaria, who works at the convenience store in the station, said the victim had visited the station regularly since the incident.

He said: “She is well-known in the community and sits just outside the station from time to time.

“We have got to know her since she started coming here around January this year and I give her hot drinks.

“I’ve seen here back at the station again and she seems OK.

“It is terrible and so sad this has happened as she is so friendly and most people have been kind to her.”

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Police wish to speak to this woman about the assault.

A tube worker at the station, who wished to remain anonymous, said his colleagues who witnessed the attack told him about it the next day.

He said: “I used to work in central London where we would have these issues regularly but this is very rare at Wanstead station, which is usually very safe.

“My colleague witnessed the incident, he said the homeless woman was attacked outside and the fight then moved inside the station before the attacker escaped down the escalator.

“BTP came and viewed the CCTV with the woman who has been helping them find who did this.

“A lot of people know [the victim] and many ask about how she is and give her food and drink, so it is shocking that she was treated like this.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference T/B2 of 30/03/2015.

Alternatively, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.