No rape took place outside Epsom church, say Surrey Police

An investigation into a rape outside a church in Epsom has been closed after police concluded "no sexual offence had occurred". Surrey Police said following its "thorough investigation" into the incident, which sparked protests and public disorder in the town, they now believe the woman concerned "sustained an accidental head injury" following a night out and made "a confused report". A spokesperson added: "The woman involved has given us permission to share this information and she continues to be supported by the relevant services." The force said it "takes every report of sexual offending seriously, each of which is treated with sensitivity". The woman, who is in her 20s, initially reported that she had been raped outside Epsom Methodist Church in the early hours of 11 April, after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub. The church's Reverend Catherine Hutton told Radio Surrey she felt a "huge sense of relief for the young woman" and hoped she found "full recovery". She said she was relieved about the "definitive outcome" of the case. "However, it doesn't negate the fact that feeling safe on our streets remains a high concern for women," she added. "The recent protests have revealed