Serial rapist named "Islam" sentenced in London

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the 15-year old teenager said: “No one will ever understand the flashbacks, they are so real, at night I lay in my bed and it is like I am there."

He was today sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment for public protection in relation to the rapes. He will not be considered for parole until he has served 11 years.

He was also sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the sexual assault by penetration and an additional eight years for kidnapping.

All of the terms are to run concurrently.

The charges relate to four female victims, aged between 15 and 30 years at the time of the attacks, and are said to have happened between May and September 2010.

The offenses were:

1) On July 8, 2010 against a woman aged 20 years at the time of the offense:

- Two counts of rape contrary to section 1 (1) of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003.

2) On July 14, 2010, against a woman aged 28 years at the time of the offense:

- One count of rape contrary to section 1 (1) of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003;
- One count of assault by penetration contrary to section 2 of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003.

3) Between September 1, 2010 and October 31, 2010, against a woman aged 30 years at the time of the offense:

- Two counts of rape contrary to section 1 (1) of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003.

4) On September 18, 2010, against a girl aged 15 years at the time of the offense:

- Two counts of rape contrary to section 1 (1) of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003;
- One count of kidnapping contrary to Common Law.

Officers were first alerted to a series of assaults following the kidnap and rape of a 15-year-old girl [4] in the Barking area on 18 September 2010.

The teenager had been walking with her friend at around 3:25 AM when Islam grabbed her at knifepoint and drove her to a secluded road in Barking. He threatened her before raping her in his Renault Clio.

She eventually managed to break free and immediately alerted police. DNA was taken from the victim that led police to identify another victim from east London [3]. She had been working as a prostitute in east London and had been picked up by Islam on a date between September 1, 2010 and October 31 2010.

Once inside his vehicle Islam repeatedly punched the victim before raping her. Although she didn't initially report the offence to police she did actively assist the investigation once contacted by officers from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC).

Believing that Islam may have previously offended, officers searched for similar incidents already being investigated in the surrounding area.

The court heard how the third victim had been walking alone along Eleanor Road on July 14, 2010. Islam got out of his car and grabbed the victim pulling her back into the vehicle.

He raped the victim but she continued to struggle and managed to smash through a window of the car and escaped.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who investigated the offenses, said: "These were a series of terrifying assaults carried out by a man who actively preyed on vulnerable women. He would deliberately patrol the streets of east London and Essex under the cover of darkness to approach known sex workers or threaten lone females walking home. Once inside his vehicle he would use violence to control his victims and we believe that had he continued to offend he would have taken the violent outbursts to a more sinister level.

"In his final attack he snatched a girl from the street at knifepoint and threatened to kill her unless she agreed to carry out his depraved sexual demands. I would like to express my thanks to all of the victims involved in this case. They came forward to give evidence, showing a huge amount of courage throughout this investigation, and we only hope that this result brings them some small comfort.

"Despite this result we believe there may be more victims who, for whatever reason, are yet to come forward and speak to police. Should any further information come to light it will be dealt with robustly. Please contact your local police where a specially trained officer will be assigned to you."