Police hunt woman over 'violent abuse' of pregnant commuter on Southern train

Police are hunting a woman who was "violently abusive" to a pregnant passenger on a packed commuter train in the morning rush hour.

The incident, which took place on the 7.48am Southern service between London Bridge and Victoria on March 27, saw the woman hurl abuse at an expectant mother, it is claimed.

The pregnant woman tried to move down the carriage but the torrent of foul-mouthed abuse continued, police say.

One 42-year-old man travelling on the same train tried to intervene before he was also yelled at.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "The suspect then towered over the victim and shouted violent and aggressive language at him over the course of a few minutes. "

Police have released photographs, taken on a passenger's phone, of a woman they want to trace over the incident.

Investigating officer PC Chris Abbott, said: “The behaviour of this woman was extremely aggressive and whilst she was not physically violent, her abuse would have been very frightening to the victim.

"No one should ever be subjected to this type of threatening and disgusting abuse and we have a number of active enquiries in place to trace the woman responsible."

Anyone with information should text police on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 91 of 27/03/2017. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.