Appeal after woman racially abused in Exeter

Police are seeking witnesses after a woman was racially abused in Exeter on Bank Holiday Monday night [2 May].

The woman, who was wearing a hijab, was approached by a man while she waited at the bus stop outside Evans store in the High Street around 9.50pm.

He subjected her to verbal abuse using racist language before following her onto the bus using threatening behaviour.

The victim, in her 20s and from Exeter, was left shaken and distressed by the incident.

Police are appealing for witnesses and are seeking the offender who is described as being aged between 47 and 55, and speaking with a local accent. He was wearing a peach-coloured hoody.

Officers are also keen to trace a member of the public who stepped in to challenge the offender’s behaviour at the bus stop. Police would like this person to come forward and help with the enquiry.

They are further seeking a female passenger who spoke to the victim and said something like “look after yourself.” Police would also like this passenger to come forward.

Sergeant Colin Harper, from Exeter Neighbourhood Team, said: “This was an extremely upsetting incident for the woman who was subjected to distressing racial abuse while simply going about her daily life. Police will not tolerate such appalling incidents of hate crime in Devon and Cornwall and we are appealing to anyone who can help us locate this man.

“We are particularly keen to speak to the two members of the public who went to the woman’s aid and we would like them to come forward and help us with our investigation.”

Please contact the police by e-mail: 101@dc.police.uk or telephone on 101, quoting crime reference CR/28522/16.