Latest Offenders London

Description

A sex offender who repeatedly groped and touched young woman on trains and tubes across London has been jailed for 14 months. 

Hailu Getemariam, 24, of no fixed address, stalked carriages across the Transport for London network looking for lone women to sexually assault. 

On one occasion he sat next to a woman on an otherwise empty train carriage then stroked her leg, while another time he stood directly behind a woman on the London Underground and groped her. 

“Mr Getemariam, you are a pervert,” Judge Freya Newbery told him at a sentencing hearing on Wednesday (November 15). “You are seeking out young women on public transport to touch them sexually.” 

The first incident took place on March 25 when refugee Getemariam boarded a train at Denmark Hill. 

He sat next to a woman, despite the carriage being nearly empty, and began rubbing his fingers up and down her leg and thigh. 

As he did this he rested his leg on the seat in front, leaving the woman feeling trapped, the court heard. 

As the terrified woman got off the train at Beckenham Hill she turned and shouted at Getemariam. 

“You suggested that you had accidentally touched her when you reached for your mobile phone, but that was simply not true,” Judge Newbery said. 

Then on April 18 Getemariam was at a Northern Line station where he spotted another young woman who he then followed onto the Tube. 

“It was quite crowded but you stood right behind her and pressed your body into her. You touched her bottom with your hand and then you placed your hand in between the top of her thighs,” Judge Newbery said. 

He kept his hand on her thigh for around five minutes. 

“She was really scared. At a stop where some people got on and off she moved to the other side of the carriage, but you followed her and stood opposite her quite close and stared at her,” Judge Newbery said. 

The woman kept her gaze away from Getemariam then rang the police when she got off. 

A few weeks later, on May 10, Getemariam boarded another train where he stood close to another woman. 

He then tapped her genital area a few times over her clothes. 

“When she realised what was happening she moved away of course, but when she saw that you then touched another woman on the bottom she filmed you,” Judge Newbery said. 

Getemariam denied all the charges but a jury found him guilty of three sexual assaults. 

He has been in prison since his arrest in May. 

Defending Getemariam at his sentencing hearing, barrister Matthew Ness said: “This is his first period in custody, it has been a difficult period for him and he’s suffered anxiety and stress as a result of his situation.” 

The court heard that during Getemariam’s time in prison he was the subject of a number of assaults. 

The 14-month prison sentence Judge Newbery gave him means that he will be released within one month as he will have served half of that time. 

When he’s released he will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) which states that if he travels on the TFL network he must use an Oyster card registered in his own name to pay. 

The SHPO also state: “You must not sit immediately next to, touch, or make any attempt to communicate with any unknown female while you’re travelling on the TFL network.”

Description

Fans of TikTok musician Anthony Q Lion are furious after they discovered their idol had failed to mention his rape conviction as he asked them for thousands of donations in his final performance. The neo soul singer, whose real name is Anthony Ekpenyong, masqueraded as a doting father and husband, but was harbouring a dark secret he kept hidden from his 337,000 followers.

In fact the 37-year-old from Chadwell Heath in East London had been found guilty of raping a woman who begged him to stop 107 times, and for forcing his fingers inside her without consent. Last Wednesday (November 1), on the eve of his seven year sentence, he bowed out to thousands of adoring fans who sent him 134,800 TikTok gifts which can range from 1p to £400 each.

Seething fans, who were not given a clear reason why he was leaving, claim this may have earned Ekpenyong thousands of pounds. MyLondon has also seen evidence of fans sending Lion Gifts, which cost app users around £325 each to purchase. Other fans have shared their anger, telling MyLondon they felt 'betrayed' and 'fooled' after giving the singer emotional support.

One fan told MyLondon: "He had a big following on TikTok and was sent a lot of gifts the night he said he was leaving. But he did not tell anyone why. He is a sick person."

Another fan told us: "He was a massive star on TikTok for singing and everyone in the community is very angry. A lot used to gift him big £400 gifts."

Another TikTok star also shared her concern after Ekpenyong slid into her DMs while his wife was pregnant, telling her 'You are a great person. Would be great to be friends sis'.

Rapist Ekpenyong was only able to rake in the cash because he was bailed ahead of his sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Thursday (November 2). After his conviction at a temporary Nightingale Court at the Barbican on September 26 this year, MyLondon understands the unusual step was taken to let him walk free due to the lack of a custody suite at the facility.

This was acknowledged by Judge Noel Casey, who said: "It would not normally happen for someone convicted of an offence of this kind." When MyLondon spoke to Ekpenyong's victim, she said it was "strange" her attacker had been allowed back into the community while waiting for his sentence.

Ekpenyong denied the rape, and put his victim through a trial where he falsely claimed her pleas to stop were actually just her begging to end their association. But when jurors were presented with an audio recording of the assault, taken by the panicking victim as she struggled under his bodyweight, they decided Ekpenyong was lying and found him guilty.

'People are going to say stuff about you'

Allowed home for over a month before he was jailed for seven years on Thursday, Ekpenyong made full use of his freedom to keep posting videos on TikTok. On the day of his conviction he shared a video, telling fans: "I really really really do appreciate everything you've done, and your support is priceless. There's no doubt I will always remember you... Thank you for all you have done."

The dad-of-one then posted a series of videos titled 'In My Daughter's Eyes' where he sang about his young girl. In his final post last week, before leaving for 'personal reasons', he invited fans to a swan song livestream, writing: "Today is my last day streaming in TikTok so come join me with some live music one more time."

Videos of the livestream, seen by MyLondon, show Ekpenyong, sitting with his wife and holding his daughter, telling thousands of fans 'Life is going to throw things at you that are going to question who you are. People are going to say stuff about you that's going to question... You're gonna doubt yourself, or you may doubt yourself because of what people say'.

Ekpenyong then launched into a rendition of 'He Lives In You' from The Lion King, causing his livestream to race to TikTok's Weekly Number 1 with over 134,000 gifts flooding his account in minutes. The video clearly shows Ekpenyong thanking fans who make the biggest gifts, but it remains unclear exactly how much money he earned.

After the performance, some admirers uploaded their own videos sharing theories about why he left, suggesting trolling, weight loss issues, and that he was just on holiday. After MyLondon broke the news of his sentence, fans twigged their hero was a rapist and joined a live stream discussion on Wednesday night (November 8), where some called for him to return their hard-earned cash.

Ekpenyong has previously raised £780 for a new Sony FX3 Cinema Camera on GoFundMe, and still directs TikTok followers to his Amazon Wishlist containing around £1,500 worth of equipment. His TikTok shop, and links to his PayPal and Cash App, were also accessible to MyLondon via the app over a week after he was sent to prison.

The predator has previously partnered with TikTok, appearing on the tiktoklive_uk channel in June this year when he said he wanted to 'help get people through their day' and 'empower people'. At the time he had been arrested and charged with three counts of rape and one count of assault by digital penetration. MyLondon understands TikTok was not aware of the charges at the time.

Fans have also called for his account to be banned by the platform, but MyLondon understands there are no plans to remove his profile unless posts are found to be in violation of community guidelines.

'It made me feel like a piece of meat'

Ekpenyong raped a woman who met him for consensual sex at his home, but changed her mind when he left the bedroom to grab a sex toy and she noticed another woman's clothes. Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC counted 107 times when the victim asked Ekpenyong to stop, and described her screams of 'Ouch' and 'No', caught on the audio recording, as he pinned her down and raped her.

"It made me feel like a piece of meat. Like a helpless lamb caught in a barbed wire. It made me extremely angry, he made me feel that way." the victim told the court. "This man raping me does not define me, but it will show who he is at his core." The woman also said the rape had left her "broken in pieces", isolated, and powerless, with her security and identity lost.

Defence barrister Soroya Lawrence said the rape was a "complete aberration on what was before a thoughtful and caring man" and occurred "in the heat of the moment".

Judge Casey said Ekpenyong went on 'despite her pleading and despite her protestations' using his physical power to keep her in place. The judge, who sat on the trial, also told Ekpenyong his evidence in the witness box 'flew in the face' of the audio evidence captured by his victim.

TikTok was approached for comment.

Description

A man who lured teenage girls by offering them modelling work and taking them back to his flat to sexually exploit them has been jailed.

Benjamin Agyemang, of Marlborough Grove in Southwark, was convicted after a victim-survivor came forward to police ten years after the abuse.

The 45-year-old was sentenced to 13 and a half years in jail at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday (November 9).

He was found guilty on Wednesday, September 27 of one count of attempting to procure a girl under the age of 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

Detectives spent two years investigating the case which spanned over a 20-year period and led them to uncover other victim-survivors.

The court heard how Agyemang targeted the girls who were all between 14 and 16-years-old at the time of the offences.

They knew Agyemang as ‘Marshay’ who lured them by offering them modelling work and then taking them back to his flat in Elephant and Castle to sexually exploit them.

In 2021, a woman reported offences of sexual assault and exploitation which took place in 2008 when she was 14 years old.

She was approached on the street by Agyemang, under the name ‘Marshay Ramone’, who told her he could get her into modelling for music videos.

Police say she began staying at his flat for weeks at a time, manipulated and unable to leave, where she would be sexually abused by Agyemang and multiple paying ‘clients’ a day.

During this time, she witnessed him sexually exploiting other girls and young women.

Agyemang was arrested following the report and police went on to identify other victims.

A school friend of the first victim-survivor was identified and contacted by officers.

Police found that when she was 15, she had gone to Agyemang’s flat on two occasions where she was sexually abused by a ‘client’.

Through careful investigation, a further victim-survivor was identified. She described how at the age of 16 she had attended Agyemang’s flat on the promise he could help her become a model.

He took her to a bar and introduced her to an older wealthy man who he suggested was important in the modelling business.

This was a lie, instead Agyemang had “sold” her as an escort without her knowledge.

She was taken to the man’s house and seriously sexually assaulted.

In June 2022 Agyemang was further arrested and charged with offences against all three victim-survivors.

If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape or you have information about an offender, contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency – there are specially trained officers who will listen and investigate where needed.

Detective Constable Kate Orr, from the Met’s Specialist Crime team, who carried out the investigation, said: “I would like to commend the courage and strength of these women and I hope today’s outcome provides them with some degree of closure.

“Sexual predators like Agyemang who groom girls are often able to escape justice for years due to the fear and shame they instil in their victims.

“It’s not uncommon for it to take many years before victim-survivors feel able to report offences to police.

“The fact offences may have taken place a long time ago does not make investigating them any less of a priority.

“I hope this investigation will encourage victims of sexual offending to come forward to police.

“We have specially trained officers who will listen carefully to allegations and investigate them thoroughly, with a view to getting justice for victim-survivors and protecting future victims.”

Description

An evil pensioner from Hornsey who travelled to Morocco to sexually abuse toddlers has been jailed. 

John Thorogood, 75, abused boys as young as one - then shared stories of the abuse with a like-minded sex offenders. 

Thorogood, of Middle Lane, Hornsey, was arrested in December 2021 after images were seized from a man who was convicted in the Netherlands. 

It emerged that Thorogood was part of a Europe-wide network whose networks travelled the world to abuse children. 

In August he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexually assaulting a child. 

He also pleaded guilty to possessing more than 200,000 indecent images of children. 

Thorogood will be sentenced in mid-November. 

Christopher Behn, 68, from Colchester in Essex, was part of the same network of offenders. 

On Friday (November 3) at Chelmsford Crown Court he was sentenced to 11 years in prison and a further six years on licence for sexually assaulting young boys in Vietnam over a 10-year period.

Description

A sexual predator was caught after he arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex just metres away from a police station. 

Daniel Boyd, 31, sent grooming messages and photos of his penis to the ‘young girl’ before arranging to meet for sex. 

But when he arrived at Bromley South Station armed with condoms and lube, he found himself confronted by paedophile hunters who ran the decoy account he had been messaging. 

Boyd, of Dagonet Gardens in Bromley, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (November 3) after he pleaded guilty to meeting a girl following grooming, engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of his penis. 

He was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years meaning he won’t see the inside of a prison cell unless he offends again. 

The facts of the case were told to the court. 

On July 7 he started a Facebook conversation with what appeared to be a young girl, saying “Hey”. 

The girl explained that she was 14 and Boyd told her he was 31. 

He sent three photos of his penis to her, asked her to send sexual photos of herself and arranged to meet at Bromley South Station on July 18. 

Boyd made it clear that the meeting was to have sex and told her to book a hotel room as he couldn’t afford it. 

When he was confronted by paedophile hunters, Boyd said “this was stupid of me” and pleaded “I don’t want to go to jail”. 

By 8.40pm he found himself in police handcuffs. 

Defending his client in court, Tihomir Mak said Boyd was genuinely remorseful and had never been in trouble with the law before. 

He added that Boyd’s difficult childhood in Jamaica and poor mental health had contributed to his offending. 

Sentencing Boyd, Recorder Joshua Swirsky said: “You’re a man in your 30s who was proposing to have sex with a child of 14. 

“This sort of behaviour is condemned by most people in society and in my judgement amounts to very serious criminal conduct.” 

Recorder Swirsky decided that the best way of protecting the public from Boyd was to force him to engage in services to prevent future offending and to suspend his prison sentence. 

“It’s quite clear that in order to protect society there needs to be some intervention to help you with your behaviour to ensure there’s no repetition of this conduct,” he said. 

Boyd was ordered to attend a 60 day intervention programme, 45 days of rehabilitation and carry out 150 hours on unpaid work. 

He will also have to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years. 

Description

A sex offender from Lewisham has been convicted of engaging in sexual communication with a child and three sexual assaults, including on 14 and 16-year-old girls. 

Mohammed Aminu, of Nightingale Grove in Hither Green, appeared in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (October 20) where he pleaded guilty to four offences. 

The 25-year-old admitted that on March 22 last year he sexually assaulted two teenage girls by touching. 

He also admitted that the following day he engaged in communication with a 14-year-old girl about having sexual intercourse. 

As well as this Aminu pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a third person on March 25. 

These offences all took place just weeks after he was found guilty of stalking a woman at Lewisham Shopping Centre last year. 

The court heard that between May and July last year he stalked the woman at the shopping centre. 

In February 2023 he was found guilty of that offence and in May he was jailed for six weeks. 

Judge Jonathan Mann KC ordered a pre-sentence report and told Aminu: “Your offending in all of these occasions shows a worrying escalation from what you’ve done before.” 

Aminu will remain in custody until he is sentenced. 

Description

A sex offender who raped a teenage boy in Greenwich after hitting him with a baseball bat has been jailed for 18 years.

Kieran Johnson, 21, was at an address in the SE10 area of Greenwich with the 18-year-old victim on March 13 last year.

He hit the teen with a a baseball bat and demanded that he hand over his phone, keys and a vape pen.

After the robbery, Johnson raped and assaulted him multiple times.

Johnson, of no fixed address, was arrested the following day at a hotel in east London after quick forensic work at the scene.

He denied the offences but was found guilty of two counts of rape, one of sexual assault by penetration and one of robbery.

On October 13 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison by an Old Bailey judge.

Detective Constable Robert Shires of the Met’s South East BCU said: “I hope that this conviction and the lengthy prison sentence can bring some closure to the victim, and show that justice has been served. We will continue to support the victim and I hope that he recovers in his own time.

"I urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to report the matter to police. Dedicated officers will support you and work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A child sex offender who travelled from London to Strood to abuse a teenage boy has been jailed.

Titoo Tahir of Chamberlayne Road, London, first spoke to the victim through social media where he made him believe he was between 15 and 17 years old.

On 11 September 2021 the 38-year-old met his victim at Strood Train Station before they both walked to a disused warehouse.

While inside the building Tahir sexually abused the boy and threatened to hurt his family if the teenager did not comply with his demands.

He also made him meet him the following day where he made the boy go back to the building where he committed further sexual offences against him. During the incidents Tahir also gave the boy cash and told him to keep quiet.

A few days later his victim was able to disclose what had happened to him and Kent Police was called on 16 September.

Officers commenced an investigation and linked Tahir to the offences. He was already in prison within The Metropolitan Police area having committed similar offences.

Following enquiries, including obtaining DNA, mobile phone and CCTV evidence, Tahir was charged with seven sexual offences including three counts of inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

He admitted all seven charges and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 18 October.

He was jailed for six and a half years and was ordered to remain on licence for an additional four years upon release.

He was previously jailed on 15 October for similar offences committed in Bromley where he was sentenced to four years and one month in jail. He will serve both sentences concurrently.

The judge also handed him an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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.”