Teenager jailed for five years for rape at Romford station

A teenager has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for a rape that occurred at Romford station. Tommi Harwood, now 18, was jailed on Friday, October 9, for an attack he committed in September 2024 when he was 16. The incident took place in the female toilets at the East London station.

Jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Harwood had been messaging the victim on Snapchat under the name Bobby. He learned she was travelling and asked her to meet him at the station in Havering. Upon arrival shortly after 8pm, the girl was directed to a waiting room. Harwood repeatedly asked her to check if the female toilets were vacant before he carried out the rape.

Following the assault, Harwood reportedly told the victim, "If we see police, run across the tracks." The girl reported the incident, which led to a nearly two-month investigation by British Transport Police (BTP). Officers apprehended Harwood at Basildon station on October 25 after he was stopped for travelling without a ticket. He was convicted of rape after a five-day trial.

Sentencing and Orders

In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Harwood was given an indefinite restraining order. He also received an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Harwood, who is from Stanford-le-Hope in Essex, was found guilty of rape.

Detective Constable Ross McAlpine of BTP commented on the case. "The young victim has shown tremendous courage, not only by speaking up and reporting what happened to her, but by supporting our enquiries and the court proceedings that followed," he stated. "She has been supported throughout our investigation by specialist officers, and I hope the fact her attacker is now behind bars brings her some sense of justice."

Detective Constable McAlpine added, "Harwood’s attack was premeditated and frankly abhorrent. Through his actions, he has shown that he poses a very real threat to women and girls. Tackling sexual offending is a top priority for us at BTP. I would urge anyone who experiences or witnesses this offending to report it to us by texting 61016 or dialling 999 in an emergency. Just as we have in this case, we’ll stop at nothing to put dangerous sex offenders before the courts."