Latest Offenders london

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A man will now spend 4.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a teenage girl.

Andrii Melnyk, of Harvard Road, Chiswick, and born on 15/12/1993, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court today (17 January) for sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by touching. He will also be on the sexual offenders register for life.

The assault took place on 2 April at around 6am on Short Lane in Staines and involved Melnyk following the victim after they got off the same bus, grabbing her by the arm and attempting to pull her trousers down. The victim then fell over and Melynk fell on top of her, after which he sexually assaulted her.

The victim, who was only 18-years-old at the time, managed to fight him off and shout for help, before seeking assistance from a nearby taxi driver who rang the police. Melynk then fled the scene.

Melynk was identified as the perpetrator after officers trawled through the CCTV on the bus and matched him to the suspect description. By cross-referencing the oyster card used on the bus, Melynk was successfully identified as the user.

Upon searching his home address, officers found clothing matching the ones in the CCTV, as well as a pair of distinctive jeans with mud stains on the knees. He was subsequently picked out as the perpetrator in an ID parade by the victim, before being charged with the offences and remanded in custody.

Investigating Officer DC Katherine Peters, said; “This was a complex investigation that involved many different lines of enquiries including forensics, intel, witness testimonies and CCTV.

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A South London man who sexually abused a child has been jailed after the victim bravely came forward many years later. Darren Barrett, 40, of Coventry Road, Croydon, was charged with two counts of indecent assault on July 22, 2022 after a Metropolitan Police investigation which began when his victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - broke their silence in August 2021.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Detectives began an investigation in August 2021 after a [person] contacted the Met to report that [they] had been sexually assaulted when [they were] a child."

Barrett was convicted on both counts at Croydon Crown Court and was jailed for 18 months on one count and nine months on another, to run concurrently. Detective Constable Chamberlain, who carried out the investigation, said: "It must have been incredibly difficult for the victim to come forward and speak about what [they] went through after so many years. I hope [they] will finally have some closure.

"This investigation and conviction demonstrates that the Met will take all allegations of sexual abuse seriously and we will follow the evidence to bring offenders to justice, no matter how long ago the offences occurred." Barrett was also put on the Sex Offender's Register for 10 years.

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A manipulative rapist has been jailed after raping a woman twice in the toilets of Kings Cross railway station following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Abdifatah Mohamud, 35, of Bingfield Street, Islington, was sentenced today (12 January) at Inner London Crown Court to 11 years after he was found guilty by a jury for two counts of rape. He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a life-long signature on the Sex Offenders Register.

The court heard how, on 12th October 2022, at around 5pm, the victim was at a local park with a group which included Mohamud. He proceeded to claim he knew the victim, giving her his nickname and began talking to her.

Later, at around 10pm, the victim returned to Kings Cross railway station and joined the same group from earlier in the day. She was approached again by Mohamud where he proceeded to coerce her into the toilets where he raped her. 

Following this, Mohamud took the victim for food to manipulate her into believing he meant no harm. However, he later proceeded to coerce her once again into the toilets, forcing her to take drugs and raping her again. After the victim began getting upset and becoming vocal, Mohamud left the scene.

The victim was found in the toilets by a cleaner who in turn informed security and a report was made to British Transport Police.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Adrienne Curzon, said: “Mohamud is a calculating offender who used coercion and manipulation in order to rape the victim. This has been an extremely frightening experience for her, and I hope this outcome goes some way to help her move on from the traumatising ordeal she was subjected to.

“We take all reports of sexual offences seriously and I hope this sends a strong message to offenders that we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”

Description

A British Transport Police (BTP) investigation has seen a man jailed for nine months after being found guilty masturbating on board a train in front of a lone woman.  

Mukesh Shah, 43, of Primrose Way, Wembley, was sentenced to nine months in prison for indecent exposure at London Inner Crown Court on 18 December 2023. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and subjected to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 

The court heard how, on 4 November 2022 at around 11.40pm, the victim was travelling alone in an empty Piccadilly Line carriage between Sudbury Town and Acton Town when Shah boarded the train.  

Despite the empty carriage, Shah sat diagonally opposite the victim and she noticed him staring at her, making her feel uncomfortable. It was then that she noticed he was exposing himself and masturbating.  

Bravely, the victim captured Shah on camera hoping it would deter him, when he didn’t, she confronted him and told him to stop and move away from her. He protested he hadn’t done anything wrong but moved along the carriage.  

The victim reported the incident to BTP along with the video, which was circulated within the police and lead to the identification of Shah.  

Investigating officer Detective Constable Mark Luker said: “This was a frightening and upsetting experience for the victim and I commend her bravery in confronting the offender, managing to capture an image of Shah and reporting this.  

“Shah’s disgusting actions have not only secured him time behind bars, but restrictions following his release to prevent him from repeating his actions in the future. 

Description

A doctor who watched a five-year-old girl drugged and raped was spared jail. James Burrow was initially 'perplexed' when his 10-year-old son opened the door to police executing a search warrant on their 1.25million semi-detached home in gated Sayers Court, Ealing, on November 15 2022, Isleworth Crown Court heard on Thursday (December 21).

The 46-year-old consultant anaesthetist at Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith alerted detectives to his IP address after downloading illegal child abuse images. When police seized his devices, including a computer tower from under his desk in the study of his West London newbuild, they discovered the illegal content.

The stash included 20 Category A images, the worst kind, 10 Category B, 112 Category C, 97 prohibited images, and 1,781 extreme porn images, which were mostly of humans having sex with horses, court documents show.

Prosecutor Phillip Allman said: "In particular in one video the child is approximately five-years-old and appeared to be drugged, struggling to keep her eyes open and sit up, before she is anally raped."

When Dr Burrow was arrested, he made no comment in his interview but later pleaded guilty to all the charges at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on October 1 this year. A social services investigation issued no further action, but the dad-of-one has been only allowed supervised contact with his son to date, Mr Allman told the court.

Defence barrister Jose Olivares-Chandler said: "After this case he was allowed to continue working. As long as he did not care for children... but he chose to resign anyway to save embarrassment for his hospital."

The GMC has said this is not the case. As is normal procedure after any criminal case, the GMC referred the doctor to an Interim Orders Tribunal in 2022 due to the seriousness of the allegations against him. He was put on an interim suspension during the investigation. Now that he has been found guilty, the case has been referred to an independent Medical Practitioners Tribunal. It is at this point that the doctor would have likely been sacked, had he not quit already.

In mitigation, Mr Olivares-Chandler explained his client's struggling 11-year marriage had driven him to access the 'porn', but his wife was now supporting him. He said the offence was 'out of character' for Burrow, and that it will 'stay with him for the rest of his life'.

A suited Burrow smiled as judge Richard Inyundo sentenced him to 40 weeks for the Cat A images, and 20 weeks, 11 weeks, 11 weeks, and 28 weeks, all concurrent, for the remaining charges of Cat B, Cat C, prohibited images, and extreme pornography respectively, suspended for 18 months.

Judge Inyundo warned: "If you commit any criminal offence within the next 18 months for which you are convicted you also stand to go to prison for 40 weeks for this order itself."

Burrow, who left court peering over a surgical mask, was also handed a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and is subject to notification requirements for the same period. He was also ordered to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and do 125 hours of unpaid work. He must pay 330 in costs in 28 days.

Description

A pervert who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl on a train has walked out of court a free man. 

Ilie Preda, 56, was travelling on a train between Wimbledon and Waterloo at around 4pm on April 24, 2021. 

Three girls, aged between 16 and 18, were also travelling on the train and said they noticed Preda dancing around while calling himself Captain Morgan, prosecutor Gregor McKinley said.  

“The defendant then became bothersome and tried to talk to the three girls. He told one of the girls ‘I love you’ and tried to move forward in an attempt to kiss her,” Mr McKinley said.

The girls told Preda to back off and then when the train arrived at Wimbledon they tried to get off.  

But Preda then moved towards the 16-year-old girl, tried to hug her and moved his hands towards her thighs in an attempt to lift her skirt.  

He then tried to touch the 18-year-old girl on the bottom.  

The incident was reported to British Transport Police and Preda was arrested when he got off the train in Waterloo. 

This sexual attack took place just week after Preda had left left members of the public terrified when he walked around the Kingsbury area with a plastic imitation gun.  

At around 4pm on April 8, 2021, police received two calls saying they had a real gun pointed at them.  

One woman, who was sitting in a car on Brampton Road, said: “He locked eyes at me, took the gun from his waist area and raised it at me. He then walked towards me while imitating the fire action.”  

Another man said: “I thought he would kill me or someone else. He was pointing the gun at other people who seemed to be ducking out of the way.”  

Whilst the man was on the phone to police Preda walked towards him and pretended to pull the trigger.  

He said that at the time he thought a bullet had got stuck in the barrell of the gun, which was why it was not firing.  

Preda was arrested near the scene and it was only then that police discovered it was not a real gun.  

Preda said he had been at a children’s party and was carrying toy gun for his son in a carrier bag.  

He said he saw a man standing outside his home so he took the plastic gun out the bag and pretended to shoot as a joke.  

Preda said he was walking round making a “tat tat” shooting noise and didn’t believe people would think it was real.  

Preda “poor joke” and said the incident may have stemmed from cultural difference – as he had only moved to the UK from Romania in 2018.  

Think this line is missing words before "poor joke"

Judge Usha Karu, Recorder of Southwark, said: “It’s not a cultural difference to think it’s ok to go around in public pretending to fire an imitation gun. I’m sure that’s not what they do in Romania.” 

On Tuesday (December 12) Preda appeared in court to be sentenced for sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, possessing an imitation firearm, failing to surrender and a Section 4 public order offence. 

Judge Karu sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for one year.  

He will be required to register with police for seven years under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. 

Description

A depraved sex offender who masturbated in front of two women before going onto rape another while she was unconscious on the Piccadilly Line has been jailed for rape and sexual assault, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Ryan Johnston, 37, and of HMP Thameside, Greenwich, was sentenced today (8 December) at Inner London Crown Court for nine years imprisonment. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a life-long signature on the Sex Offenders Register.

His sentencing followed a jury finding him guilty of: one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of outraging public decency at Inner London Crown Court on 2 August.

On Sunday 23 February 2020 at around 4.45am, two women left the Piccadilly Line at Bounds Green Underground station.

They noticed a man stood outside a house with his trousers round his ankles, looking through the window and masturbating.

Feeling scared, the women ran away, and Johnston then began shouting and chased them down the street to their home.

Thankfully, they managed to safely get inside and hide under a stairwell while Johnston banged on their door and put his hand through the letterbox before eventually leaving.

Three hours later, Johnston boarded a Piccadilly Line train at Heathrow Terminal Five.

He walked confidently through the carriage and approached a young woman who was asleep.

He sexually assaulted her and then raped her as she sat unconscious.

The horrific attack was witnessed by a tourist and his young son, who reported what they had seen to police later that morning.

The incident was not captured on CCTV and despite extensive enquiries, officers were unable to identify the victim or any other report made to police.

Two years later, following a BTP review of historic rape cases, Johnston was identified, and he was arrested at HMP Brixton in December 2022 where he was serving time for burglary.

Further enquiries led to detectives identifying the victim in the same month, who hadn’t realised the extent of what had happened to her. She was just 20-years-old at the time.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kathrine Spencer said: "The offences committed by Ryan Johnston show him to be a dangerous individual who viewed women with contempt.

“He was simply concerned with his own sexual gratification at any cost. I hope this sends out a strong message to survivors of these offences that we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice to make society a safer place." 

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Paul Attwell of BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said:

“Johnston’s brazen attack in front of witnesses highlights his lack of shame or remorse for his actions, something which continued throughout his trial. I am thankful his violence and despicable actions have been recognised by the guilty verdicts and significant sentence.

“His depraved actions will have a life-long impact on the victim and those who witnessed this. I am thankful for their bravery throughout this investigation. I hope they can now find some comfort in the fact justice has been served.”

Description

A pervert has been jailed for three sex attacks on women in 30 minutes. Dylan Makepeace, 24, from Mile End, was arrested after a group of boys followed him from the second attack, and was detained by them at the scene of the third, allowing police to swoop.

On November 27 last year, two women saw Makepeace acting strangely near their home in Bethnal Green. They then realised he was following them into their complex and onto their floor despite earlier asking them how to get to a different level.

One of the women began filming Makepeace out of fear, who then attacked them. They both fought back and hit out at him. After a struggle which saw him push the women to the floor and pin them to the ground, he ran off after one of the women hit him with a mobile phone.

They both suffered cuts and scratches. The women then called police to report the attack. Around 30 minutes later - at 6pm - he approached a third woman going home from the gym and entered the communal entrance of her complex, in Mile End. She became aware that Makepeace was following her.

Once inside the complex she tried to stand to the side in the hope that he would walk past rather than follow behind her. But instead of passing her, he grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth.

She tried to scream but Makepeace told her to "shut up". She tried to hit him with her key, and during the struggle they both fell over and he put his fingers down her throat as she tried to scream.

He also hit her head hard onto the ground. Makepeace then called her nasty names before sexually assaulting her by touching her over her clothes.

The woman bravely continued to fight back and managed to hit him with her keys. But Makepeace escaped when some boys on bikes appeared outside the apartment block. A resident heard the woman’s screams and came out to help. They took her into their flat and called the police.

Police arrived and were flagged down by the young men on bikes who had followed Makepeace and detained him until police arrived. Officers arrested Makepeace and carried out an ID parade which linked him to the first attack.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Makepeace pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, sexual assault on a female, intentional strangulation, and section 20 grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to five years with an additional three years on licence. He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Sergeant Michael Dixon, who led the investigation for the Met’s Central East Safeguarding team, said: "Dylan Makepeace is very clearly a danger to the public and especially lone women. He was opportunistic and violent in his approach. He specifically targeted women as they returned home and entered private residential areas to carry out his attacks.

"I want to pay tribute to the bravery of these three women. They all showed incredible fortitude as they supported our investigation. I am in no doubt that London is a safer place with Dylan Makepeace behind bars."

Description

A paedophile who was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for raping a child is now behind bars again for failing to sign the sex offenders register. 

James Bodenham was 26 when he raped an 11-year-old girl he had befriended in Addiscombe in March 2014. 

The victim's parents contacted police on March 1 when she was late returning from visiting a relative.  

She arrived home distressed soon after and told officers she had been sexually assaulted by a man she met earlier that day. 

Detectives identified on CCTV footage a man matching the description given by the girl and circulated the image around local officers, one of whom recognised Bodenham as a cyclist he had stopped weeks earlier. 

Bodenham was arrested on March 19 at this home, where police seized clothes matching those worn by the girl's attacker. 

Following DNA sample analysis, he was charged with two counts of rape. 

He pleaded guilty to one, with the other to lie on file, and was jailed for eight-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey. 

Bodenham, now 36, was released from prison on March 1, 2023 after serving the full sentence. 

But he failed to attend a police station to sign the sex offenders register within three days of his release. 

Then on November 8 he was caught with cannabis in Lambeth. 

On November 9 he appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with sex offenders register requirements and possession of a Class B drug. 

Bodenham was due to be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday (November 28). 

But a HMP Thameside officer said he could not attend court because he “swallowed a suspect drug parcel”. 

The sentencing was adjourned until mid-December. 

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A FORMER soldier who works in the movie industry has been jailed after a jury found him guilty of child sex offences with a girl he thought was just 14.

Paedophile Michael O’Mahoney, 38, was convicted following a trial of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The offences were committed in Newport and London between November 22, 2022, and March 28 this year.

O’Mahoney had denied the charges against him.

His barrister Peter Donnison told Cardiff Crown Court: “He does have previous convictions but none for offences such as this nature and they are of a particular age and it is some length of time since them.

“The most serious offence was of a completely different context as well and it was committed whilst he was serving in the army.

“Having been released from that previous sentence he has worked for a number of companies in different areas and in particular has been working on movie sets for Movie Guard in terms of providing security in that industry.”

The judge, Recorder John Hardy KC, told O’Mahoney: “It's wholly unnecessary for me to lecture you about these offences.

“You know what it is you've been convicted of doing by the jury whose verdicts were returned, if I may say so, with some considerable degree of promptitude.”

He jailed the defendant, of High Street, Stratford, London, for 18 months and told him he would serve half of that sentence before being released on licence.

O’Mahoney will have to register as a sex offender and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

He will also have to pay a statutory victim surcharge following his release from custody.

The attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act offence happened in Newport and the attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child charge occurred in London.

Description

A London Underground worker was snared by paedophile hunters as he tried to groom a 13-year-old girl for sex and promised to “deflower” her, a court has heard.

Garret Kelly, 62, exchanged hundreds of messages with the girl called Saskia on Facebook and WhatsApp over the course of six weeks before setting a meeting up at Paddington Station.

Kelly had cleaned his house in preparation for her stay, urged the schoolgirl to start taking the contraceptive pill, and promised “to make you a woman, sexually”.

However, Kelly was confronted at the train station by a so-called paedophile hunter who had created Saskia online using a digitally de-aged photo of her own face.

At Southwark crown court on Wednesday, Judge Martin Griffith sentenced Kelly to 21 months in prison and agreed to suspended the term for the next two years.

The court heard Kelly, a London Underground worker for more than 20 years, has lost his job since his arrest in December last year.

Prosecutor Carol Summers said Kelly, a father of two, starting communicating with Saskia on Facebook last October, where she had a profile clearly indicating she was 13-year-old.

He gave out his mobile phone number and messaging switched to WhatsApp, where repeated references were made to the girl’s school, mother, and homework.

“Slowly and methodically he made reference more and more to sexual contact, her clothing, being in the bath”, said Ms Summers, adding that he asked “how good were her sex education lessons”.

“He was putting himself forward as a confidante, a helper, and an instructor.”

The prosecutor said Kelly started making references to “deflowering” the girl, before discussing their upcoming meeting when he suggested she wear stockings and a suspender belt.

When Saskia messaged saying she did not “know how I’m supposed to feel”, Kelly replied: “That’s OK, you are open to the idea, not opposed or repulsed by me”.

Ms Summers added: “He was encouraging her to go to the doctor to obtain contraception.”

Kelly travelled from his home in Tooting to the meeting on December 2, when he was met by the paedophile hunter, caught on camera, and evidence was handed over to police.

On police bodyworn video Kelly is visibly angry and upset, and complained: “They have tried and sentenced me”, and suggested it had been “sold” to him that the girl’s mother was away.

Lee Sergent, for Kelly, urged the judge not to send him to prison to allow for rehabilitation in the community.

“The fallout and impact of being caught has been already punitive – he has lost his long-standing work, and his relationship with his two daughters at the moment is non-existent.

“This is a man who, as a result of facing up to these charges, is on the point of giving up.”

Kelly was ordered to carry out 125 hours of community service and 45 days of rehab as part of his suspended prison sentence. He will be added to the sex offender’s register and under a sexual harm prevention order.

He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempted grooming.

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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.