Bruke Desalagne, aged 33, an illegal immigrant from Eritrea, was convicted of rape at Harrow Crown Court after subjecting an elderly male pensioner to a violent 20-minute attack outside a church in north London.
The court heard that Desalagne targeted the intoxicated victim outside St John’s Church in Harrow. CCTV footage presented during the trial showed Desalagne dragging the pensioner from a public bench into a secluded grassy area behind a wall and fence.
Desalagne proceeded to carry out a 20-minute rape ordeal, pausing the assault each time members of the public walked past oblivious to the crime. A passing driver noticed the assault from her car window, recorded part of the incident on her mobile phone, and immediately dialled 999.
Metropolitan Police officers attended the scene and arrested Desalagne.
During the trial, Desalagne claimed through an interpreter that he had only been attempting to assist the elderly man.
Appearing before Harrow Crown Court, Desalagne was convicted of:
- One count of rape
A jury took two hours to return a guilty verdict. Desalagne was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court later this year.
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