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SUSPECT: Police have released a CCTV image to identify man who forced two boys to commit sexual acts

POLICE HAVE released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to following an incident where two boys were forced off a bus and made to commit crimes and perform sexual acts on each other.

At approximately 19:55 on Wednesday February 11, two teenage boys boarded a route 133 bus in Brixton and sat on the top deck.

Detectives from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are hoping to trace the man who got on the bus at this same location and also sat on the top deck.

During the journey the suspect approached the boys and claimed that he had a knife, before threatening them and forcing them off the bus in the Elephant and Castle area.

The boys were led to a park in Newington Butts, where they were forced to fight each other and steal from a nearby shop.

The suspect then led them to the stairwell of a block of flats in Walworth where he forced one of the boys to perform a sex act on the other.

The suspect then walked away from the area in an unknown direction.

Trainee detective constable Amy Beautridge said: "This was a most unusual crime and distressing crime, during which the two young victims were terrified by threats made by the suspect, who intimated he was in possession of a knife.

"He used their fear to control them and force them to effectively do as he said."

Beautridge continued: "Despite their young age, the victims have been incredibly brave in coming forward and providing information to the police and I would praise them for this.

“I am very keen to identify and speak to the person in the CCTV image we have released, and I would urge anyone who recognises him to call the police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible."

She added: “I would also like to reassure anyone concerned about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4621, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.