A “dangerous predator” who filmed his sexual assault outside his Croydon home has been jailed for 14 years and four months.
‘Dangerous predator’: Heilab Assefa, sentenced to 14 years
Heilab Assefa, 29, of London Road, was tackled by police who arrested him at the scene. He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday.
At a hearing in June, faced with overwhelming evidence from the prosecution, he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.
The court heard that around midnight on November 18 last year, officers responded to reports that a young woman had been assaulted on London Road.
Detective Sergeant Tim Walter led the investigation. He said: “Assefa is a dangerous sexual predator who targeted the victim-survivor whilst she was outside his address.
“This sentence sends a clear message to would-be offenders – the police will actively pursue and prosecute offenders using the full extent of the law.
“I would also like to commend the incredible work of DC Hannah Bates and PC Rose Mason. Without their outstanding detective ability and impressive skillsets, the evidence required to convict Assefa would not have been secured.”
“Violence against women and girls has a profound and long-lasting impact on those affected. Such violence affects local communities and impacts how safe people feel where they live, and how confident they are in their local police.
“Our job is to safeguard victims and secure justice for them. We will not stop in our mission to tackle violence against women and girls.”
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