Police are hunting a sex pest who may strike again after a woman was harassed while travelling home late at night.

The CCTV images from the London Underground’s Tramlink were released after the woman told police she was targeted at Mitcham tram stop at about 1am on Thursday, October 13.

British Transport Police said the victim was travelling to Phipps Bridge but missed her stop when the man sat next to her and started complimenting her on her looks.

After finally exiting the tram at Mitcham, the man allegedly continued to pester her and invited her to a friend’s house but, when his offer was declined, he unzipped his trousers to expose himself before grabbing the woman.

Following a short struggle, the woman was able to push the man away and ran towards two girls who were walking nearby before reporting the incident, police said.

Detective Inspector Paul Langley, of British Transport Police, said: “While serious assaults like this are rare on the tram network, this was clearly a very frightening and upsetting ordeal for the victim.

“We’re treating this incident very seriously and will do everything in our power to identify and arrest the person responsible.

“We need to identify this man before he has the chance to try and do this again.

“It’s vitally important that we get a name for the man pictured in the CCTV images as we want to question him in connection with this incident.”

Anyone with information should contact BTP on Freefone 0800 405 040 (quoting reference B6/LSA of 17/10/11), or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.