The crime that never happened - and sparked a rage bait frenzy

Surrey Police said no sexual offence had occurred and the investigation was closed. Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend noted it would not have been appropriate to provide a running commentary while inquiries continued, but acknowledged lessons to be learnt in public communication.

Five people, aged between 15 and 23 from Surrey and London, were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage after missiles were thrown at officers.

A second group of protesters descended on Epsom. Clips showed people shouting 'get them out' and entering a local hotel that did not house immigrants; riot police arrived amid online posts questioning how protesters were being treated.

A local Facebook group’s admins issued a warning that the forum was never intended to become a place for hatred, hostility and deeply unpleasant behaviour to reside.

Several days after the initial appeal, Surrey Police said it had not found evidence that the offence happened as reported and explicitly stated there was no evidence asylum seekers or immigrants were involved.

In the week after the appeal, a protest took place in Epsom. Some locals attended while others appeared to have arrived from outside the town, with participants demanding descriptions of the alleged suspects.

Surrey Police issued a public appeal for witnesses, stating an alleged rape had taken place outside a church in Epsom in the early hours of April 11. The force said it had received reports a woman in her 20s had been attacked on her way back from a nightclub.