Latest Offenders London

Description

A Brixton market trader who molested a young girl has been jailed after his victim bravely stepped forward 18 years later. Jeff Cooper, a.k.a. Jeff the Chef, sexually assaulted the child, aged around 13, in the Brixton Hill area in early 1999, prompting her to 'jolt upright' and scream 'What are you doing?', Inner London Crown Court heard in January.

The 54-year-old, from Brixton, who runs Jeff the Chef Food Bar outside Brixton Railway station, was aged around 29 at the time of the sex attack. The victim - who told her mother but decided not to tell police at the time - battled mental health issues for nearly two decades, then finally broke her silence in 2016 after counselling sessions helped her confront the traumatic incident.

Describing the indecent assault at a sentencing hearing on January 19, prosecutor Bhavin Patel said: "He... moved close. She thought nothing of it. He put his hand on her then proceeded to insert his fingers into her vagina. She was not sure how long it was, it could have been a few minutes."

In an emotional impact statement, the victim said she had never blamed her depression on the incident but now recognised it was due to Cooper's actions. She also said she 'pretty much shut down', became 'closed off' and 'very guarded' after the attack, and still struggles to trust men.

"I go through periods where I do not eat, I go through some times where I just sit down crying," said the victim.

Defence counsel Fiona McCaddy argued Cooper had lived 24 years without an offence, apart from assaulting his wife in 2007 when he was cautioned by police. The barrister pleaded for a suspended sentence, citing advice from Cooper's GP who claimed prison would be dangerous for his skin condition.

"In short he fears a custodial sentence will legitimately and genuinely kill him," Ms McCaddy said.

Cooper denied the offence but was convicted by the jury after a trial at Inner London Crown Court in October 2023.

Jurors heard how the victim felt Cooper 'rooting through her underwear' then forced his finger insider her, which 'felt like a lifetime', the victim said in her evidence. The attack ended when she "jolted upright and said 'What are you doing?'," Judge Vanessa Baraitser recalled as she summarised the case.

Judge Baraitser said 18 years had passed before counselling helped the victim realise she need to report the attack for 'her own sanity'. "It's clear to me she has suffered genuine long term harm as a result of your offending," concludec the judge.

Judge Baraitser also explained the offence was equivalent to assault by penetration under current laws, but any sentence was limited to the maximum of 10 years under indecent assault laws at the time.

he concluded Cooper - who has served Jamaican food on his Jeff the Chef stall in Brixton for 19 years - had strong mitigation due to his health issues, but the prison estate was 'more than capable' of looking after him.

Judge Baraitser said Cooper 'took advantage' of his victim, with 'devastating consequences' as she jailed him for four years. Cooper is also entered on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Description

Endless hard work by a series of Metropolitan Police Officers has resulted in the jailing of an 18 year old male for ten sexual offences including rape.

The 18 year old was 17, when he committed the string of sex attacks on ten different women across east London and has now been jailed, but for just 4 years.

His victims will never be the same after the horrendous ordeal they went through, yet the perpetrator will soon enough be back on our streets despite ruiing countless lives.

Zyroam Allen from Hackney, was named after the Judge lifted his anonymity on the day he turned 18 and at Wood Green Magistrate’s Court he was sentenced last week, for the rape of a woman, seven sexual assaults and exposing himself to another woman. Again, just 4 years.

Police officers from across the capital worked tirelessly to catch Allen and analysed more than 400 hours of CCVT, took multiple statements and undertook detailed forensic testing, all of which led to his conviction.

One of Allen’s victim’s who has shown incredible bravery throughout this awful ordeal, has openly praised the police and the way the whole investigation has been dealt with. She has also spoken openly about how her life will clearly never be the same.

She said: “I no longer run along the canal as I do not feel safe. I won’t even go for a walk if I am by myself, as I find it too stressful. It makes me really angry that I can’t enjoy the area I live in now. This person has taken that away from me and I do not think I will ever get that back.”

Her life as it was is gone and nothing will ever bring that back, yet Allen will be walking the streets just as before in no time whatsoever. Where is the justice for these women? Why does it feel as if sexual offences against women carry no value in our society at all? What deterrent does it show to possible offenders?

Allen pleaded guilty to all offences after the thorough investigation by officers from the Met Police, who must surely feel as disappointed as every woman reading this.

Once again, despite an increase in sex offences against women, the jailing of Allen for 4 years, clearly goes to show that sexual attacks on women count for very little.

Let’s finish by praising the women who came forward to report him and respect the bravery they have shown throughout this awful ordeal.

Description

A man has been jailed after he urinated on a train seat, chucked the seat cushion in a man’s face and sexually assaulted a woman. 

Harry Burgess, 25, was travelling on a train to New Eltham with friends on April 4 when he started acting up. 

At one point in the journey he exposed his genitals in full view of other passengers and urinated on a seat. 

He then threw the cushion at a male passenger, hitting him in the face. 

Then at New Eltham station he sexually assaulted a woman as she boarded the service. 

Detective Constable Matt Smart said "Burgess’ loutish and crude behaviour was humiliating and intimidating for the woman he singled out. 

“He is now serving time behind bars for his pathetic attempts to impress the friends he was travelling with. Sexual assault and violence of any kind is no joke as Burgess can now testify.” 

Burgess, of Brodrick Grove in Greenwich, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and assault by beating at Bromley Magistrates’ Court. 

On Monday (September 18) he was jailed for 24 weeks and handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order. 

He was also ordered to pay a £154 surcharge. 

DC Smart said: “We take all reports of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations. 

Description

Anthony Maina, 52, of Allen Road, Stoke Newington, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, after being found guilty of 17 offences, including seven counts of rape.

The court heard how Maina exploited a position of trust to groom the girl, buying her gifts, clothing, food and mobile phones in a bid to normalise the abuse he was carrying out.

He referred to the victim as “his girl” and his “best friend in the universe”, and would regularly accuse her of having “neglected” him if she did not maintain contact.

Maina would isolate her from all of those around her to knock away at her confidence to prevent her from questioning what he was doing.

He would ask the survivor to come to his property under false pretences, such as to receive a parcel or let some workmen in, and would then abuse her.

When she began to challenge this, he would suggest to her other family members she was being unhelpful, to in effect force her to come to his property.

Description

A sex attacker has been jailed after police swooped when they recognised his clothing through CCTV footage from one of his crimes.

Abid Khanzada, 27, had targeted lone women in Camden with a string of offences between 15 and 21 January.

A total of five woman, mostly aged in their early 20s, were sexually assaulted by Khanzada.

Khanzada, from Camden, had pushed one victim to the ground before sexually assaulting her, Wood Green Crown Court had heard.

He pinned the victim to her front door and sexually assaulted her, only stopping when he was challenged by a member of public.

Officers from the Central North Public Protection team trawled hours of CCTV footage from the crime scenes.

In the early hours of February 25 officers from the Public Protection Predatory Offender Unit were on patrol in the area of the attacks when they spotted a man wearing similar clothing to that of the suspect.

He also matched the physical description provided to police. He was arrested and in custody he gave a “no comment” interview.

Khanzada was ultimately charged with four offences of sexual assault and one of digital penetration.

He pleaded guilty on June 5 at Wood Green Crown Court to four counts of sexual assault. On July 19 at the same court he pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration ahead of trial.

He was jailed for three years on September 13.

DCI Steve Tod, who led the investigation, said: “We were absolutely determined to find the man responsible for such serious offences and bring him to justice.

“Khanzada posed a significant threat to women. He subjected these victims to a terrifying ordeal and I would like to praise each and every one of them for their bravery in coming forward. Reliving their experiences will have been extremely traumatic, but their actions have ensured that he won’t be able to assault further women.

“No one should live in fear of being the victim of such horrendous offences while simply going about their daily lives, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure women feel safe on the streets of London.”

Description

A paedophile blackmailed girls as young as nine into sending indecent photos and videos of themselves by posing as a model agency scout.

Ishmael Duncan, 24, used Snapchat to coerce children across the UK, US, Canada and Australia into sending explicit photographs of themselves, in one case targeting a teenager with learning difficulties.

On Wednesday, Inner London Crown Court heard that Duncan, of Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, had confessed to 50 child sex abuse and blackmail offences relating to 28 female victims.

However, prosecutors believe the predator may have contacted close to 10,000 children using Snapchat accounts he set up under different aliases.

The court heard how Duncan targeted victims by asking if they were interested in becoming a model for top fashion brands, and built up trust using a fake interview process and forged contracts featuring the brands’ logos.

He would then request topless photos on the pretext of assessing the victims’ body shape for modelling. Girls were threatened with being ‘blacklisted’ from modelling if they didn’t comply.

Duncan contacted victims from multiple accounts under different personas, pretending to be the agency’s photographer ‘Callum’, or ‘Mark’, the general manager of the agency’s preteen models division.

He then created another account to contact the same victims threatening to share the images on social media unless the children sent more.

He sent his victims a “warning”, reading: “We have your nudes, and unless you reply to this message saying ‘I understand’, they will be sent out to expose accounts on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.

“If you reply with anything else other than ‘I understand’, or if you block or unfriend this account, your nudes will be sent out. This is your first and only warning.”

On other occasions, the predator posed as a teenage boy on Snapchat, requesting sexual images and videos.

He blackmailed a 14-year-old girl with learning difficulties who sent him images, even offering her $1,000 (£804) to engage in a sex act with her brother.

Duncan was caught after two sisters in the US reported being threatened after sending images to one of the accounts.

When National Crime Agency officers arrested Duncan at his home in July 2021, they found 19,120 abuse images on his computer and phone, some of which was ranked as the most severe possible.

The agency’s operations manager Martin Ludlow said: “Ishmael Duncan cruelly preyed on young girls who had dreams of becoming models.

“The threatening messages he sent were chilling and showed his callous disregard for the victims he exploited for his own sexual gratification in this case.”

Duncan is due to be sentenced at the same court on December 1.

Description

A man who raped and attacked a woman then claimed she sustained her injuries in a bike crash has been jailed for 10 years. 

Richard Summer, 35, from Highbury Park, launched a vicious attack on the woman while under the influence of cocaine by forcing her to have sex with him. 

When she tried to fight back he repeatedly punched her in the face and hit her over the head with a glass ashtray. 

Police were called to a pub in Highbury Barn at around 1pm on Saturday, March 4, by a member of the public who saw the woman injured and in distress. 

When officers arrived she told about the attack. 

Summers was known to police as he had a long history of dangerous assaults and violence towards ex-partners. 

Det Con Max Orange, who led the investigation, said: “Summers is a predatory offender. We are certain that he posed a real danger to other women who he may have come into contact with.” 

Summers lied throughout his police interview, telling officers the victim sustained her injuries by riding into a lamppost on her bike. 

He later pleaded guilty to assault but denied rape and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour. 

On Thursday (September 13) after a seven-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court a jury returned guilty verdicts for rape and coercive and controlling behaviour. 

He was jailed for ten years and has also been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and added to the sex offenders register for 15 years. 

Det Ch Insp Paul Ridley, public protection lead for Islington, added: "Summers is clearly a very dangerous individual and I’m pleased that he has been brought to justice. 

“Detectives leading this case have demonstrated our determination to make London a safer place for women and girls, tackling the scourge of domestic violence. 

“We know that there is more work to be done in protecting women and girls across the capital which is a top priority in our New Met for London plan. 

“Every day we are making strides to work with partners to support victims and track down predatory offenders.” 

Description

A paedophile caught as part of a sting operation by a vigilante group was proposed to in court by his girlfriend as he was hauled off to prison. Vicky Owen shouted: "Baby I love you, will you marry me?" to Mark Owen as the 53-year-old was jailed for 22 months at Harrow Crown Court on June 27.

He replied "Will do", as a bewildered Judge John Lodge peered over his glasses and Ms Owen apologised for interrupting. Mark Owen, of Brentfield House, Stonebridge, previously pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual communication, grooming, and inciting sexual activity.

It comes after so-called paedophile hunter vigilante group COBRA UK passed messages to the Metropolitan Police showing he had contacted a 14-year-old decoy over a period of five days last year, MyLondon reports.

Prosecutor Dipan Varsani explained how Owen sent the decoy, named 'Jessika', a photo of his penis and asked her to send one back of her in the shower. The court also heard incriminating texts where Owen wrote he wanted to 'make love' to the girl and asked her to wear a short skirt so he could easily reach between her legs when they met.

Mr Varsani said: "We know [the planned meeting] was to 'make love' and touch her in between the legs. And asking her to wear a mini-skirt so when they met he could put his hand up her skirt."

Mr Varsani added: "He also sent inappropriate messages, all the whilst thinking and knowing it was a 14-year-old. He sent a picture of his penis, and requested inappropriate pictures from the decoy child."

Defending Nick Wells described his jobless client as "completely naïve and pathetic" after he posed as a mechanic and spoke to the decoy about his favourite football team and food.

Mr Wells said: "He's not a sex offender, he does not have a history of paedophilia, he does not think he would have gone through with it. He really comes across in many ways as a pitiful person, he's a heavy drinker and has not had a successful life."

"It's a personal humiliation on him of the highest kind, it's against his whole image of himself," Mr Wells added. "He pretended to be a mechanic to this decoy but he's unemployed. The high point of this is 'make love' but the rest of it is just pathetic."

Chelsea fan Owen had already spent nearly five months in custody when he appeared arms crossed in a grey tracksuit before the court. Judge Lodge explained the most serious count of inciting sexual activity fell into a lower category of harm because it "wasn't clear" full penetrative sex was going to take place, and the use of a decoy gives a small discount as Jessika was "not a real child".

Judge Lodge sentenced Owen to 22 months in prison for inciting sexual activity with a child, and six months each for sexual communication and grooming. He will serve half his sentence in custody and is entered on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Vicky Owen declared herself as Owen's girlfriend at the start of the hearing, then stood up and proposed to him as he was jailed. Before leaving the court she asked Judge Lodge for clarification on her new fiancé's sentence.

MyLondon approached Ms Owen outside the court but she refused to comment.

Description

A survivor of sexual offences, who was subjected to many years of sexual abuse has directly addressed her perpetrator today, as he is jailed for 10 years and 6 months.

Terry Crabb, 71 of Star Lane, London appeared at Chelmsford Court Court on Friday, 25 August where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences against children.

An investigation into Crabb was launched in April 2020 after a survivor bravely reported the years of sexual abuse she had been subjected to in Loughton.

The investigation was managed by Essex Police’s Quest team, who are trained in investigating non-recent sexual offences where the victim was a child at the time.

Enquiries revealed that Crabb had started sexually abusing the victim when she was 13-years-old.

He was arrested in June 2020. In interview, Crabb denied all offences. Further enquiries revealed that Crabb was in possession of a number of indecent images of the victim.

He was later charged and pleaded guilty to 4 counts of sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15 and two counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 25 August where he was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison.

'You are a coward'

Following the sentence, the survivor in this case said what she’d like to say to Terry Crabb now:

“I still remember the very first time you laid your hands on me and I remember how uncomfortable and frozen I was when it happened.

“At first, I wondered if it was a one off, but then I soon realised the flood gates had been opened and you would keep taking what you wanted.

“I wanted to say something, but I never thought I could.

“I remember talking about self- harm; you would tell me only cowards did that. The only coward I’ve ever known, was you.”

Detective Constable Emily Monk said:

“Crabb manipulated this victim into thinking that his offences were normal and that she’d have to accept them as part of her life.

“This sentence is a direct result of the bravery she has demonstrated in breaking out of years of abuse.

“I hope she is able to move forward with her life.”

Crabb will remain subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and lifelong notification requirements.

Essex Police’s Quest team investigates non-recent sexual offences cases where the victim was a child at the time of the abuse but is now an adult.

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex: CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey.

Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy.

For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

Description

A former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) mayor has been stripped of his MBE following a conviction for a sexual offence.

Thomas Hogg, now 34, was found guilty in 2021 of an offence against a teenage boy in 2019.

He had been made an MBE in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

He served as mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council in 2014-15, but resigned from the council after charges were brought.

Hogg had also resigned from the DUP at the time charges were brought against him.

The Cabinet Office can advise the King to revoke honours for a range of reasons.

Suspended sentence

On Tuesday it listed Hogg among 12 people to have had their honours forfeited., external

He received the award in 2016 for services to local government.

Hogg was given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of attempting to engage a child in sexual behaviour.

He had offered to perform a sexual act on a 15-year-old boy and asked the boy to perform a similar act.

Hogg had claimed he was tipsy but the judge said alcohol was no excuse for what had happened.

The judge said Hogg's proposal came as a shock to the boy, who vehemently rejected it and reported the matter to the police.

The court heard the incident had a serious effect on the victim.

Description

A predator who raped a woman in the City of London on New Year’s Day has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Awet Solomon, 24, attacked the victim as she alighted a bus on Mansell Street, near the Tower of London, and walked towards Whitechapel High Street.

He dragged her into an alleyway, beat, strangled and then subjected her to a violent sex attack.

When Solomon, who was not known to the victim, fled she contacted the police and an investigation was launched on January 1.

He was arrested, charged and remanded in custody within 36 hours of the report.

Solomon, of Bath Road, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to rape, strangulation and actual bodily harm and was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday.

Detective Superintendent Richard Waight, of the City of London Police, said specialist officers worked closely with the woman.

He added: “I would like to thank the victim for showing tremendous courage and strength to come forward to report such an abhorrent incident and in supporting this investigation.

“City of London Police take allegations of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously and we investigate them with the utmost sensitivity.

“We will believe you, listen and support you throughout every step of the investigation and do everything we can to bring the offender to justice.

“I would also praise all those who investigated this crime. Their diligence and hard work has contributed to making the City a safer place.”

Description

A man who raped six young women over a three-year period has today been convicted.

Kevarnie Queen, 19, known on social media as the ‘Brixton R Kelly’ met all but one of the victims - all under the age of 18 - through ‘SnapChat’, where he would flatter and groom them before arranging to meet. For three years he was a prolific sexual predator and an offender who had no regard for his victims, some of whom were raped on numerous occasions.

Queen was initially arrested on 8 April 2020 in relation to two offences of rape. He did not provide an account to police. He was subsequently arrested in June and again on 8 August 2022 for further offences of rape which he denied, claiming that the women were all lying and were part of a hate campaign against him. On 18 August 2023 the jury at Inner London Crown Court found him guilty of 22 counts of rape. He has been remanded in custody to appear at the same court on 13 October 2023 for sentence.

Laura Devitt, Senior Crown Prosecutor from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit in London South said: “It has taken immense bravery and mental fortitude for the victims to come forward in this case particularly given their young age and the lasting impact these offences have had on all of them.

“Queen has clearly demonstrated he saw these young girls’ existence purely for his own satisfaction. Queen claimed he was a ‘player’ and knew how to make girls like him and that any activity was consensual.

“His misogynistic and deplorable actions have now been exposed for what they are, and these convictions ensure no further women are caused further irreparable harm at his hands.

“Every woman and girl should be free and feel safe to go about their daily lives, including walking alone, without fear of harassment or sexual offences. The CPS is committed to bringing offenders who commit crimes against women to justice.”

Description

A "dangerous" man has been jailed for 13 years and 8 months after pleading guilty to sexual offences relating to two children in Hertfordshire.

Michael Hargrave, 31, from Loch Crescent in Edgware, admitted six charges at St Albans Crown Court on August 10.

He was arrested at and address in Kings Langley on May 11, 2023, after a 14-year-old girl from Hemel Hempstead reported engaging in sexual activity with a man she had met online.

While Hargrave was in custody, further investigations found there was a nine-year-old victim in Hemel Hempstead, whom officers were then able to safeguard.

He had been speaking to the girl via Snapchat using his online alias.  

Hargrave was subsequently charged with:

• Two counts of sexual communication with a child.
• Three counts of sexual activity with a child.
• Two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act.
• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activities.
• Three counts of a breach of sexual harm prevention order.
• One count of failure to comply with notification requirements.

The offences took place between January 2022 and April of this year.

Hargrave met both victims initially on Snapchat and then arranged to meet the 14-year-old victim in person, and subsequently committed offences against her.

Detective Sergeant Sam Jarvis, from the child online safeguarding team, said: “This was a good result for the team, who have taken another very dangerous offender off the streets thanks to the bravery of the two victims.

“We will continue to identify and proactively target those within Hertfordshire who pose a sexual risk towards children.”

His sentence was extended for another five years on licence, he will be on the Sex Offenders' Register, and must abide indefinitely by the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Licence conditions are a set of rules that an individual must follow if they are released from prison but still have part of their sentence to serve in the community.

The licence can be revoked, and an individual can be recalled to custody at any time during the licence period if the probation service considers that an individual has breached conditions of their licence.

Description

Harry Blake was a follower of neo-Nazi and Satanic ideologies, the Old Bailey heard.

A neo-Nazi paedophile who previously avoided a prison term has been jailed after committing further offences.

Harry Blake, from south-west London, was given a suspended sentence in 2020 after admitting 14 terror charges.

On Thursday, the 21-year-old was sentenced to three years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to a counter-terror order breach, as well as making an indecent image of a child.

Passing sentence, an Old Bailey judge said he posed a "significant risk".

Blake also pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography, and breaching a crime prevention order and the terms of his suspended prison sentence.

Previously known as Harry Vaughan, he is the son of a House of Lords clerk and achieved high grades at his prestigious grammar school.

'Toxic online community'

After he was arrested again last year, detectives found a laptop and a mobile phone that he was barred from owning.

Material recovered from the devices showed Blake's "continued interest" in right-wing extremism, prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds told the court.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said Blake had searched online for the banned terrorist groups Sonnenkrieg Division and Atomwaffen Division. He also had a book in which Adolf Hitler is revered as a god.

Blake's phone contained videos of the "violent forcing" of a sex act on women, and a film of a young boy being sexually abused by a man.

In mitigation, defence barrister Arthur Kendrick said Blake had been exposed to a "toxic online community" at a young age, and, while the views instilled in him may take time to diminish, there were some "green shoots" of change.

In 2020, Blake admitted 12 counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist, one count of encouraging terrorism and one of disseminating terrorist publications. He also admitted having videos of young boys being raped.The judge decided against sending Blake to prison, despite concluding he was dangerous. Expert evidence had stated Blake's ideology was a "hybrid" of neo-Nazism and a violent form of Satanism.

On Thursday, Judge Sarah Munro KC said that when he was sentenced in 2020, Blake had "falsely asserted" that his "mindset had changed" since committing his initial crimes.
As well as sentencing him to a 38-month prison term, she made him the subject of a five-year serious crime prevention order.

Description

Detectives are seeking a man convicted of raping a woman in east London after he was sentenced in his absence.

William White, 24 (09.08.98) of Paragon Road, Hackney was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 1 August to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment for one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by touching.

White failed to appear at the hearing and is now wanted by police. Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who knows where he is.

White was found guilty on Friday, 19 May after a nine day trial, which saw the victim-survivor bravely attend court to give evidence in front of her attacker.

White will be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and will be managed by specialist officers when he is released from prison.

Detective Constable Jamie Merrill, the investigating officer, said: “White subjected the victim to a horrifying ordeal when she was asleep and vulnerable.

“Throughout the trial he attempted to mislead the court about his actions, but the 12 men and women of the jury correctly identified his dishonesty and convicted him unanimously of rape.

“Significant resources are being brought to bear to apprehend White so he can face justice. I urge anybody with information about White’s whereabouts to contact police immediately.”

On 17 January 2020, the victim attended White’s address in Hackney with a friend for a social gathering. She described for the court how she had trusted White, having already known him through friends.

The victim fell asleep at the address and later woke to find White raping her. She reported the incident to police on 19 January 2020.

White was arrested by detectives two days later and an extensive investigation was carried out across London and the south-east. He was charged with the offence on 20 December 2021.

DC Merrill added: “I hope that today’s sentence will bring a small measure of peace to the victim and a sense that justice has been served.”

White had also been charged with a further count of rape in relation to a second victim. He was found not guilty of that offence.

PC Rita Stepanoviene, a specialist officer who worked on the case supporting the victim-survivor, added: “I wish to thank this young lady and her close friend who came forward to provide the crucial evidence needed to convict White.

"They have both been incredibly brave, and by coming forward they have undoubtedly protected others from being targeted by this dangerous individual.

"We hope this case shows we will always take reports of this nature incredibly seriously. We would urge any others who may have been subject to these types of offences to come forward and speak to us - at the very least so that we can make sure you are supported."