Latest Offenders London

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A serial sex offender dubbed the 'Night Bus Beast' who continued to walk the streets following multiple police failings could soon be released from prison following an upcoming parole hearing.

Terrorising women as part of campaign of terror, Kirk Reid, now 58, was convicted of 26 indecent assaults and two rapes in 2009.

Targeting lone female passengers over a 23-year period in London, Reid's conviction exposed a series of failings by the Metropolitan Police.

Likened to the case of 'Black Cab Rapist' John Worboys in terms of the prolific nature of his offending, police failings saw him remain at large despite multiple arrest opportunities.

Now, the serial offender, who was given a life term and ordered to serve a minimum of seven-and-a-half years behind bars, has been transferred to an open prison following an earlier parole hearing.

It's a move that often precedes an offender being released on license.

The lowest category jail, open prisons allow for minimal security measures and the opportunity for visitors to work outside of the prison's walls.

According to the Daily Mail, Reid's new parole hearing is scheduled to take place in May 2023.

At the time of his conviction, Reid was described as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character by Judge Shani Barnes who was overseeing the case at Kingston Crown Court.

Despite being convicted of the 28 counts, the total number of victims is believed to be closer to 100.

It was revealed that Reid, who was a chef at the time, was identified as a suspect following a series of sex attacks in 2004, a name that was flagged to police at least 12 times without any further enquiries being launched.

Following the conviction, assistant Met commissioner John Yates conceded that multiple errors had been made in the handling of the case.

'Nothing can adequately excuse the failure to follow up straightforward lines of inquiry that should have seen Reid arrested at that time,' Yates wrote retrospectively in the Guardian in March 2009.

It was revealed that Reid, who was a chef at the time, was identified as a suspect following a series of sex attacks in 2004, a name flagged to police at least 12 times without further enquiries being launched.

Reid, also an amateur referee of women's football matches, targeting women walking alone or travelling on public transport.

He was only by change that Reid was brought to justice in January 2008 when the case was handed to a senior detective from the homicide and serious crime command unit who linked him using DNA.

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A teen girl who fought off a sex attacker in Surrey has been honoured with a bravery award. The girl - who was 15 at the time of the attack - kicked "dangerous sexual predator" Nathan Smith and managed to run away.

The teenager was walking through the alleyway next to Ewell station when she was approached from behind by a man who inappropriately touched her and tried to pin her to a fence. During her struggle to get away, the man punched her in the head.

She was able to kick him off and run home. Police used CCTV footage from the station and facial recognition software to identify the man as Smith, 32, of Revelon Road in Lewisham, London.

The hunt to find and arrest Smith came to an end a month later when he was arrested in London for shoplifting. He was flagged as wanted in the shared police database and was transferred to Surrey where he was questioned in connection with the sexual assault.

He denied the allegation and attempted to manipulate officers in his interview with confusing contradictions about why he was in the alleyway. However, during a trial at Guildford Crown Court, Smith’s movements that evening were shown to the jury.

CCTV captured him leaving Ewell station and scoping out the alleyway, walking up and down several times before returning to the train station. Moments later, he was seen to notice the victim get off a train and walk towards the alleyway when he then followed her.

Smith was found guilty of sexual assault and common assault at the same court on Friday (February 3). He was sentenced to six years in prison with a further four years to be served on license and will also be on the sex offenders' register for life.

The girl, who is now 16, was given the High Sheriff award by a Judge for her bravery in fighting off Smith.

Victim showed 'astounding bravery'

Detective Constable Nicola Dell, who investigated the case, said: “This result is testament to the victim who showed astounding bravery from the moment she fought him off, right through to court. Her testimony left the jury in no doubt of Smith’s abhorrent, pre-meditated intentions that day.

“Not only has she been through a terrifying ordeal, but she has also been able to excel at her exams whilst supporting our investigation, and I know that I, along with the officers in my team, are incredibly proud of her achievements. We were committed from the outset of this investigation to bringing Smith to justice, using every tool available to us to identify and arrest him.

"He is clearly a dangerous sexual predator and should not be allowed to threaten the safety of women and girls who have every right to walk home without fear."

The victim and her family commented: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Surrey Police, from the bottom of our hearts, for their care, support and professionalism in bringing this criminal to justice. Knowing that justice has been served will go a long way in starting the healing process.”

We would encourage all survivors of rape and sexual assault to come forward – whether directly to us, to a support service, or to someone you trust, such as a healthcare professional.

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Louis Woods, 28, from Wandsworth, touched the complainant intimately in the Birkbeck University bar in Bloomsbury, central London, on March 18, 2019.

The victim had downed Guinness, rum, Jagermeister and vodka and went outside to the bar’s smoking area to get some air when she was assaulted, Wood Green Crown Court heard.

...he was convicted of two counts of penetration by a jury following a trial.

Woods was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years. In that time he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 40 days rehabilitation activity.

He will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after pressing his exposed genitals against a woman in front of her young daughter on a Tube train.

In December, a woman boarded a Picadilly Line train towards Knightsbridge with her 12-year-old daughter at around 6pm.

While on the train, the woman felt something press up against her from behind. Her daughter then saw Hasan Degirmenci pushing his groin against her mother with his trousers down and genitals exposed.

The 34-year-old has now been jailed for 16 months and put on the sex offenders’ register.

During the incident on 2 December, the woman confronted Degirmenci before they all got off the train at Knightsbridge station.

The woman and her daughter followed Degirmenci, who still had his trousers down, towards the ticket barriers. There they alerted station staff and Degirmenci was then arrested by British Transport Police.

Degirmenci, of Enfield, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 20 December, where he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent exposure.

Last week, Degirmenci was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Inner London Crown Court and handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order. He was also made to sign the sex offenders’ list for 10 years.

Detective Constable Kathryn Faine, investigating officer in the case, said: “This incident was extremely alarming and distressing both for the woman and her young daughter.

“He targeted the victim in a crowded environment for his own sexual gratification, and I hope his jail term sends a clear message to anyone who exhibits this type of behaviour on the network – it simply won’t be tolerated.”

Mandy McGregor, TfL’s head of policing and community safety, said: “This was an appalling incident. No one should ever experience sexual harassment on our network and we are working closely with the British Transport Police to make the transport network a hostile place for offenders.

“We urge anyone who experiences or witnesses this type of behaviour to report it to the police or a member of staff so that we can take action and prevent future offending. The earlier it is reported, the stronger the evidence we have to help ensure that perpetrators face justice.”

Description

A 21-year-old man from North West London has been jailed after he posed as a child to send young girls sexually explicit pictures.

Anthony Lonsdale, from Wembley, used fake profiles on social media platforms Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp to groom his targets.

He even met up with the young girls while dressed as either a schoolboy or schoolgirl.

Lonsdale once travelled to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire dressed as a schoolgirl to meet a young girl.

He managed to convince the girl's mother to let him stay over for the night, claiming he had no money to get home.

Lonsdale used the pseudonym 'Tia' to communicate with his targets before encouraging them to add an 'older brother' called 'Sam'.

He then used the 'Sam' profile to convince the young girl they were in a relationship, sending sexual images in the process.

Further investigations by police helped them identify two other girls from Nottinghamshire who Lonsdale had contacted.

Lonsdale once met a girl at Mcdonald's disguised as a female friend and tried to get in touch with her younger sister.

When he was blocked, Lonsdale used his other fake accounts to tell the girl he was suicidal and may die.

Police arrested Lonsdale in March 2022 after he was found posing as a schoolboy to try and enrol at a school near Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

While he was on bail, police found evidence relating to more offences on a mobile phone.

Lonsdale was having multiple conversations with teenage girls, and the device also held a number of nude photos.

Lonsdale pleaded guilty to eight counts of grooming and possession of sexually explicit images of children and received a seven-year prison sentence.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and five-year restraining order were also put in place to prevent Lonsdale from getting in touch with his victims again.

Detective Sergeant Sophie Draycott of the Child Exploitation Investigation Unit said: “The lengths to which Lonsdale went to by creating several fake personas on social media, to build trust with the victims and even attempting to enroll at the same school as one of the teenagers is unbelievable.

“Behaviour such as this is intolerable, and I would like to recognise the courage of the young girls who worked with us as part of our investigation. As a result, Lonsdale is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“Keeping children and young people safe, both online and in the community, is one of our top priorities and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect them from harm.

"If you are worried or concerned about online child abuse, or for the safety or wellbeing of a child, you can report it to us and there are different ways you can get in touch. Even if you’re not 100 percent sure, please report your concerns. Your information could help our trained officers and staff protect the child."

If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999 now. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.

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The man was found with 12,529 indecent images of children, including over 2,000 of the most serious category.

A man has been jailed after he secretly recorded naked women and children by hiding cameras in coat hangers and water bottles. Dean Gordon, 41, admitted sexually assaulting a young girl and taking indecent photographs of children, possession of extreme pornographic images and possession of a prohibited image of a child.

Police from the online child sex abuse and exploitation team (OCSAE), based in North East Borough Command Unit, carried out a search of Gordon's home in Leytonstone, east London, in August 2021 where they uncovered numerous videos of children being secretly recorded as well as camera devices hidden inside objects including a water bottle and coat hooks.

Officers seized over 200 exhibits over the three day search.

After analysing the devices police found a number of child and adult female victims, who were all known to Gordon, had been covertly recorded.

In total, Gordon had 12,529 indecent images of children, including over 2,000 of the most serious Category A images. This included 436 images of the numerous child victims he covertly recorded for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard that the 41-year-old befriended families with young female children and recorded them naked or semi-naked.

In one case, he sexually abused a young girl whilst she lay asleep and recorded himself abusing her.

Several videos of naked women were also found.

Gordon, of Rosewood Court, Leytonstone at his first appearence in court in August 2022.

On Wednesday he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court where he was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment.

Following the hearing Detective Constable James Cronin of the OCSAE team credited the victims for their "incredibe bravery in the "complex investigation".

Detective Constable James Cronin of the OCSAE team in North East BCU said: "This has been a complex investigation involving specialist officers undertaking countless hours of work to uncover his wrongdoing and locate and assist victims of his abuse.

"The victims, especially the children, have shown incredible bravery by coming forward and sharing their story.

"Anyone who believes they have been a victim of child abuse should contact police on 101 and, as this case demonstrates, we will carry out a thorough investigation and bring perpetrators to justice."

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A groper who sexually assaulted 11 different women on public transport and at a park has avoided jail.

Shaid Akhtar, 42, admitted the string of sexual assaults, which took place between June and July last year.

During most of the incidents he put his hand on the women’s thighs - but grabbed several of the victims’ breasts.

A judge, who said he repeatedly targeted “lone women” travelling late at night on public transport, handed him a suspended sentence after hearing Akhtar has spent the last six months in prison.

Akhtar, who has been diagnosed with autism, was remanded into custody after committing the July assaults just days after he appeared in court charged with the June offences.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser said: “I have every reason to believe your actions have a very sinister undertone - evidenced by you repeatedly targeting women over a short period of time on 11 separate occasions and locations at times when you were most likely to find women alone.

“There is clear evidence of planning because you have placed yourself repeatedly in these locations and there is evidence of significant planning.”

She added: “You appear to be a candidate for rehabilitation. There has already been a clanging of prison gates as you have spent six months behind bars awaiting sentence.”

On Monday, January 16, Inner London Crown Court heard Akhtar sexually assaulted three women on the London Underground on June 27 last year between 8.30pm and 10.50pm.

The court heard he sat next to the women and put his hand on one of their thighs and grabbed them.

One of the women was followed by Akhtar as she tried to move away, the court heard.

On July 8, Akhtar approached a woman sunbathing in Mountsfield Park near Hither Green and put his hand on her thigh, the court heard.

On July 11, Akhtar was arrested and appeared before magistrates on the sexual assault charges before being bailed.But just two days later he was out sexually assaulting women again, the court heard.

Between July 13 and July 15, Akhtar targeted six women on National Rail trains and one in a cafe in Mountsfield Park.

Two of the women were assaulted on July 13 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm and three were targeted between 4.30pm and 11pm the next day.

One of the women assaulted on July 14 told the court in a victim impact statement: “This incident has made me feel like I need to be much more aware when out in public.

“I was assaulted at 4.30pm in broad daylight while out to collect my daughter at the train station. I was very shocked and could not process what took place.”

Just after midnight on July 15, Akhtar sexually assaulted another woman, who has never been identified.But the sexual assault on her was reported by a witness, who said Akhtar put his hand on her body and grabbed her breasts.

Later that morning at around 11am, Akhtar approached a woman at a park cafe in Hither Green, touched her breasts and said: “You are beautiful, would you like to come home with me?”

When Akhtar was arrested on July 20 he was found to have a small amount of cannabis on him, the court heard.

Akhtar, of Lewisham, south east London, admitted 10 sexual assaults and one count of possession of cannabis and was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.

He was given a 13-month suspended sentence for two years.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

British Transport Police PC Matthew Smart, said: “Arktar is a predatory individual who clearly targeted lone women for his own sexual gratification.

“He failed to understand the severity of his actions, and thanks to the victims’ reports we were able to catch him and remove him from the network.

“There is absolutely no place for this behaviour on the railway and we are dedicated to ensuring women and girls can travel without fear of harassment or intimidation.

“If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the network, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. In an emergency always dial 999. Nothing is too small or too trivial to report and we will always take you seriously.”

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Pc David Carrick’s 17-year campaign of sexual abuse and violence is ‘unprecedented’ within policing, the Metropolitan Police has said today.

However, the force has conceded he is not the only officer to be charged with serious sexual offences ‘in the recent past’ – as it reels from yet another blow to its already battered reputation.

Carrick, nicknamed ‘Bastard Dave’, is now believed to be one of the worst sex offenders in modern history after he was unmasked as a serial rapist who attacked 12 women 24 times.

He is facing decades behind bars after admitting a total of 49 offences between 2003 and 2020.  

Carrick, 48, used his position as a police officer to gain his victims’ trust and convinced them they would not be believed if they reported him.

The armed officer in the specialist Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command preyed on dating sites including Tinder and Badoo in a bid to find vulnerable women before arranging to meet them at bars.

He flashed his warrant card and boasted of meeting high-profile figures, including former PM Boris Johnson, as part of his work.  

Carrick would present himself as ‘fun-loving, charming and charismatic’ but was ‘very manipulative’ and ‘very self-confident, almost to the point of cocky’, prosecutors said.

‘Relentless manipulation’

Senior Crown Prosecutor Shilpa Shah said Carrick acted as if he was having ‘a chat’ during police interviews, when he claimed his victims had consented to his actions.

‘He was very self-confident and quite charming, as if he was talking to his friends,’ Ms Shah said.

‘This is a harrowing case where some victims were relentlessly manipulated – financially cut off and isolated from their friends and family and repeatedly humiliated.

‘Carrick took so much from them both physically and mentally.

‘Carrick was persuasive but also incredibly manipulative.

‘He told the victims from the start that he was a police officer and suggested to them that it would be their word against his, a concern that a lot of victims have.’

Carrick, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, verbally abused his victims, calling them ‘disgusting’, ‘fat’ and ‘lazy’.

He ordered some women to stay in bed all day so they could have sex all night.

Others were locked in an under-stairs cupboard likened to a dog crate for hours without food and water, or made to clean the house naked.

Carrick also urinated over his victims and referred to them as his ‘slave’.

‘Missed opportunities’ to stop serial sex offender

Carrick, who served in the British Army between 1996 and 1997, joined the Met in August 2001 and was deployed as a response officer based in Merton, southwest London.

He was given the job despite being a suspect in two offences reported to the force involving allegations of malicious communications and burglary against a former partner, after he is said to have refused to accept their relationship was over.

He was not arrested and no further action was taken.

During his two-year probation period, he was accused of harassment and assault against an ex-partner but again, no action was taken.

Police watchdog, the IOPC, said two unnamed Met officers who dealt with the incident could have committed misconduct – but had since retired and could not be sanctioned.  

Carrick should have been vetted in 2011 after 10 years of service but this did not happen until 2017.  

It has now emerged Carrick was reported over nine incidents including rape between 2001 and 2021.  

A number of reported incidents were not referred to senior officers or the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

In 2019, Hertfordshire Police received a report of assault and criminal damage involving an argument between Carrick and a woman, when he is said to have grabbed her by the neck.

But neither party were supportive of police involvement and no further action was taken.

On this occasion the incident was referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards and Carrick was given ‘words of advice’ regarding informing his chain of command about off-duty incidents.

It was determined he had no case to answer in relation to misconduct.

Carrick was arrested by Hertfordshire Police in July 2021 when a woman alleged he raped her.

But no further action was taken after the woman withdrew her complaint.

The Directorate of Professional Standards placed him on restricted duties – but it was ruled he had no case to answer regarding misconduct.

The restriction was lifted but he never returned to full duties.

An investigation was only launched in October 2021 when a 50-year-old woman reported being raped by Carrick, leading to his arrest, charge and suspension from the Met.

He was remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 4, 2021, with the publicity from his court appearance prompting 12 more women to come forward.  

His pay was finally stopped on December 16, 2022, when he pleaded guilty to 43 offences at the Old Bailey – just one month before he appeared at Southwark Crown Court to plead guilty to a further six offences today.

Now London Mayor Sadiq Khan has demanded an explanation over why Carrick was able to evade prosecution for almost two decades, as the Met was forced to issue yet another a grovelling apology for serious failings.

‘We are truly sorry’

The Met said delays in re-vetting officers were previously identified as an area requiring improvement and its approach is now ‘far more robust’.  

Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray said in a statement that Carrick had a ‘devastating impact on the trust and confidence of women and girls that we are working so hard to earn.

‘We should have spotted his pattern of abusive behaviour and because we didn’t, we missed opportunities to remove him from the organisation.

‘We are truly sorry that Carrick was able to continue to use his role as a police officer to prolong the suffering of his victims.’

A misconduct hearing will be held in Carrick’s absence tomorrow, ahead of his sentence on February 6.

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A former special police officer who was jailed for a sexual chat online with a child has been jailed again for breaching a court order.

Jack Baxter, now 27, was on duty when he sent sexual messages in 2016 to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Baxter was jailed for 15 months in 2017 and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

He has been jailed again for another six months after admitting unlawfully deleting his web browsing history.

Baxter was originally caught in an online sting by Lancashire Police, the force he was working for, in November 2016, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

At Preston Crown Court the following October, he was jailed after admitting two offences of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and misconduct in public office.

'Rehabilitation prospect unrealistic'

Baxter, previously of Ulverston and Manchester and latterly of Highgate, Kendal, was also made subject to the SHPO which imposed strict restrictions on his online activities.

He was back in the dock in 2019 for unlawful possession of electronic equipment as he sought to contact females using social media and was ordered to complete 24 months' rehabilitation work under probation service supervision.

However, the latest court hearing was told that twice in October last year he unlawfully deleted web history after using the male-only Grindr social media site.

In mitigation, Anthony Parkinson, said the latest offending had not involved his client coming into contact with females in a way the SHPO was designed to prevent.

Mr Parkinson said Baxter had previously studied criminology at university in Lancaster and then obtained the position of a special constable with a view to joining the force.

He said the defendant had suffered personal trauma and needed support for his "mental health and emotional well-being".

But the judge, Nicholas Barker, said it was a "deliberate breach" and agreed with the observations of the probation service who said there "cannot really [currently] be a realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

The SHPO will continue to run its course.

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A man from Plumstead has been jailed after he piled a teenager with alcohol and then subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault onboard a train to Rochester.

Police described the incident as a a truly sickening attack against a lone teenage girl by a disgusting predator who sought to violate her for his own sexual gain.

At 7.45pm on March 26, a 15-year-old girl was sat waiting for a train at Dover Priory station when she was approached by Maxim Rowan-Moy, 32, and of Eglinton Hill in Plumstead.

He asked where she was travelling to before they boarded a train and sat next to one another.

On the train, Rowan-Moy offered her a bottle of vodka to drink before moving closer to her and sexually assaulting her.

The victim got up out of her seat and attempted to move away from him, but he pursued her down the carriage and sat next to her again.

He then continued to sexually assault her, violently attempting to pull her closer to him and persistently touching her inappropriately.

A while later, a group of passengers boarded the train and were concerned for her welfare.

Rowan-Moy then got up from where he was sat to look for his belongings.

A train guard entered the carriage and stayed with the girl to Rochester station, where staff alerted police.

When police arrested Rowan-Moy at the station, he pretended that he knew the victim.

Maxim Rowan-Moy appeared at Inner London Crown Court on November 28 where he pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault, one count of assault, and a public order offence for threatening behaviour.

On December 13 he was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as well as being ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Detective Constable Terry Botten, investigating officer in the case, said: "This was a truly sickening attack against a lone teenage girl by a disgusting predator who sought to violate her for his own sexual gain.

"She has shown immense bravery in supporting this investigation and Im pleased to see this vile and evidently very dangerous offender behind bars as a result.

"I want to assure women and girls that we are absolutely dedicated to tackling sexual offenders on the railway network and bringing them to justice.

"If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the network, I urge you to report it to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999."

Description

A career criminal has been jailed for at least 38 years for the “brutal sexually motivated murder” of law graduate Zara Aleena within days of him being released from prison.

Jordan McSweeney was caught on CCTV drunkenly lurching in the street after being ejected from a pub for pestering a female member of staff.

He followed three women and confronted a fourth before he targeted 35-year-old Ms Aleena as she walked home from a night out early on Sunday June 26.

McSweeney stalked her along Cranbrook Road in Ilford, east London before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow KC said: "Despite being only yards from a public street and from residential properties, the defendant attacked Zara Aleena with a savagery that is almost impossible to believe.

"He repeatedly kicked and stamped on her head and body, he tore some of her clothes from her body in order that he could sexually assault her, and then he attacked her again, kicking and stamping on her face and neck, and returning several times to continue the brutal violence.

"Finally, once satisfied that she would no longer be able to report him for what he had done, he walked away, taking her mobile telephone with him which he threw over a garden wall, thus ensuring that neither she nor anyone else who might find her could use the phone to call for help.

"He walked back the caravan where he was living and the following morning, having hidden the bloodstained clothes and shoes he had been wearing during the attack, was seen laughing and joking with his friends; seemingly without any concern for what he had done or for the fate he had forced upon Zara Aleena."

Ms Aleena was found with severe head injuries and struggling to breathe.

Emergency services were called at 2.44am but she died in hospital from compression to the neck and blunt force to the head.

The court was shown CCTV of McSweeney as he stalked at least two other women before turning his attention on Ms Aleena.

Her family left court as grainy footage of the moment she was snatched was played.

How bloody fingerprint cracked Zara Aleena murder within hours
Ms Glasgow said: "Mercifully, the quality is not sufficiently good to see exactly what happened.

"Just after 2.15am, Jordan McSweeney grabbed Zara Aleena from behind with both arms.

"One arm appears to cover her mouth, and the other appears to go around her neck. He then dragged Zara Aleena backwards into the paved driveway… and took her to the ground in the corner of the drive.

"She did all she could to fight him off but she had no idea he was behind her and she must have been terrified as the bigger and stronger Jordan McSweeney dragged her into the darkness and out of sight from any potential rescuer."

Ms Aleena was found with severe head injuries and struggling to breathe.

Emergency services were called at 2.44am but she died in hospital from compression to the neck and blunt force to the head.

The court was shown CCTV of McSweeney as he stalked at least two other women before turning his attention on Ms Aleena.

Her family left court as grainy footage of the moment she was snatched was played.

How bloody fingerprint cracked Zara Aleena murder within hours
Ms Glasgow said: "Mercifully, the quality is not sufficiently good to see exactly what happened.

"Just after 2.15am, Jordan McSweeney grabbed Zara Aleena from behind with both arms.

"One arm appears to cover her mouth, and the other appears to go around her neck. He then dragged Zara Aleena backwards into the paved driveway… and took her to the ground in the corner of the drive.

"She did all she could to fight him off but she had no idea he was behind her and she must have been terrified as the bigger and stronger Jordan McSweeney dragged her into the darkness and out of sight from any potential rescuer."

A spokesperson said: “The actions of officers following McSweeney’s recall to prison were reviewed by officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards who found there was no indication of misconduct.”

In mitigation, his barrister, George Carter-Stephenson KC, outlined McSweeney’s “far-from-ideal” childhood in which domestic violence was “the norm”.

His mother was a drug addict and his father was largely absent, he said.

George Carter-Stephenson told the court McSweeney was “truly for sorry for what he has done”.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb queried: “Where is the evidence of that?”

The defence lawyer said it was what he had been instructed by his client to convey.

The senior judge replied: “That is not evidence I am prepared to accept.”

Mr Carter-Stephenson added that his remorse was demonstrated by his guilty plea and McSweeney had said that “when he thinks about it, it makes him feel sick”.

The judge adjourned the court briefly to consider her sentencing. She give the defence team the opportunity to see McSweeney in the cells and try to persuade him to come up to receive his sentence.

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A paedophile from Forest Gate has been found guilty of sexually assaulting girls aged under 13 at a swimming pool where he was an instructor.

Emmanuel Brown, 60, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault by touching on December 5 after a trial at Wood Green Crown Court.

The court heard how Brown ran lessons at the swimming pool in Northumberland Park and had done so since 1995.

Police received separate reports in June and July 2020 from girls, aged under 13 at the time of the assaults, who were taught by Brown.

This was followed by a third girl who also alleged that Brown sexually assaulted her during their lessons.

The abuse of the girls took place between 2010 and 2019.

Brown will be sentenced at the same court in February.

Det Con Andri Andreou, of the North Area Command Unit, called Brown "a dangerous sexual predator" who "poses a significant risk to young children".

Brown used his position of trust to carry out sustained sexual assaults on these three girls his behaviour is utterly deplorable."

The detective urged anyone else who may have been abused by Brown to speak to police.

Anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse or who has information about such offences is asked to call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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Matthew Bibb, 32, from Northfield, and Jake Johnson, 26, carried out attack in London.

Two Birmingham men have been jailed after launching a vile sex attack on a homeless woman in London. The pair lured the victim back to their hotel room with the promise of a hot drink - but carried out a 'prolonged and violent sexual assault'.

Matthew Bibb, 32, of Slingfield Road, Northfield, and Jake Johnson, 26 of no fixed address, spotted the vulnerable woman in the street as they bought booze near their hotel in Kings Street, Hammersmith, West London. They invited her to join them at the hotel to warm up and have a hot drink.

She gratefully accepted the offer given the weather was cold and wet. But Bibb and Johnson then subjected her to a prolonged and violent sexual assault before throwing her out.

The Met Police said the distressed woman fled and reported the incident to the hotel manager and her friends, who helped in detaining the suspects at the hotel. The pair were arrested and initially denied that the victim had been in the hotel room or that they had assaulted her.

A significant investigation by officers from the Mets Specialist Crime Command to build a case against the suspects followed. It focussed on CCTV and forensic evidence, along with witness testimonies.

The men were charged and later pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault by penetration. They were both jailed for 11 years at Isleworth Crown Court on November 23.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Carrina Turner said: Bibb and Johnson subjected the victim a clearly vulnerable woman - to horrific, humiliating and degrading sexual abuse. They are exactly those predatory and violent sexual offenders who we are committed to taking off our streets.

I would like to commend the victim for her bravery and composure throughout this lengthy investigation. I know that she is understandably still suffering from the long term effects of such a terrifying ordeal, but hope she can take some comfort in this result and the knowledge her actions have potentially prevented further offences.

We always treat any allegation of sexual assault seriously and work hard to support and seek justice for the victim. I would urge any victims to speak to us directly or to contact us through a third party support group such as The Havens or London Survivors Gateway. Both offer a 24/7 urgent advice number if you need to speak with someone for the first time. The most important thing is to not suffer in silence.

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A man who abducted an 11-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her has been jailed.

Samuel Cortez, of Nether Street, North Finchley, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court last Thursday (November 10) for the abduction of the girl.

The court heard that the girl was at a bus stop near Sussex Ring in Woodside Park on September 30, 2021, when she was approached by Cortez at 4pm. 

 The girl was told he had a knife before she was grabbed by the wrist and taken to the park and sexually assaulted.

An appeal was launched after CCTV showed the suspect in the area and Cortez was arrested on December 15 last year. 

 Cortez pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a child under 13.

He was jailed for nine years for sexual assault and sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment for child abduction, to run concurrently.

The judge ruled Cortez would be on licence for five years after completing his sentence and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Chris Finnegan of the North West Command Unit said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the young girl but she, with the support of her family, has shown immense courage and strength in supporting our investigation.” 

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A man who preyed on a sleeping woman on the Night Tube stroking her leg has been jailed for a year after being found guilty of sexual assault.

Michal Piczak, 31, will spend one year in jail and a decade on the sex offenders register after a woman awoke on the Night Tube to discover him stroking her.

The attack came in the early hours of September 29 2019, the victim was travelling home on-board a Victoria line night service when she fell asleep.

As the Tube approached Walthamstow Central Underground station she awoke to Piczak stroking her legs and kicked out to get him away from her.

Pointing out Piczak to station staff she shouted: “Stop him, he’s been touching me”.

A British Transport Police officer at the station rushed to the scene and Piczak was promptly arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

CCTV footage captures Piczak’s actions as he reached over the Tube’s aisle to touch the sleeping victim before moving next to her and stroking her legs.

Detective Constable Ibrar Ahmed, investigating officer in the case, said: “Piczak is a sordid sex offender who targeted a lone woman as she slept and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault.

“His jail term sends out a clear message to anyone who exhibits this type of behaviour on the railway – we will catch you and bring you to justice without exception.”

Piczak of Station Road, Walthamstow, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on 28 October where he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

A jury found him guilty at trial and he was sentenced by a judge to one-year imprisonment, and to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.