In this report from October 2022, Rufat Kasamaj, aged 36, of High Road, Leyton, East London, was sentenced to 10 years and six months’ imprisonment with an extended licence of five years at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on Wednesday, 26 October 2022, after pleading guilty to rape.
The criminal investigation was launched by Metropolitan Police safeguarding detectives in Newham following an emergency report of a serious sexual assault at Westfield Stratford City on 4 September 2021.
The court heard that the 15-year-old victim had become separated from her friendship group inside a shopping centre venue.
Kasamaj approached the vulnerable child under the pretence of offering help, but instead escorted her to an outdoor bench where he subjected her to rape.
Following the attack, Kasamaj fled the scene. A member of the public discovered the distressed girl, telephoned her parents, and accompanied her on a train journey to reunite her safely with her father.
Specialist officers reviewed surveillance footage showing the suspect entering Stratford station shortly after the assault.
Although Kasamaj had used an unregistered Oyster card, detectives matched the exact barrier entry timestamp on CCTV to identify the card’s unique serial number and travel history.
Transit analysis indicated that the card was routinely tapped in at North Greenwich station between 17:00 and 17:30 before exiting at Leyton station approximately 18 minutes later.
On 6 September 2021, officers positioned at Leyton station identified Kasamaj matching the CCTV description and arrested him at the barriers.
Appearing before the Old Bailey, Kasamaj entered a formal guilty plea to:
- One count of rape
The presiding judge handed Kasamaj an extended sentence of 15 years and six months, comprising a 10-year and six-month custodial term (126 months) and an extended licence period of five years (60 months).
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing extended determinate sentences for dangerous sexual offenders, Kasamaj is not entitled to automatic release. He is required to serve two-thirds (84 months / 7 years) of his 126-month custodial term in prison before becoming eligible to apply for parole. His earliest date for consideration by the Parole Board is October 2029. If granted release on licence, Kasamaj will remain under strict statutory supervision in the community until the expiration of the full 15-and-a-half-year sentence in April 2038.
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