A Hackney man has been convicted of the rape and robbery of a woman in Kingston last year.

Eighteen-year-old Mohammad Idriss of Pembury Road, Hackney, will be sentenced on May 19.

According to the Met Police, Idriss assaulted the woman on July 23 last year. CCTV in the area showed a man approaching the woman in Kingston Town Centre after 12am. He then sexually assaulted her in a churchyard by Clarence street, Idriss took her bank cards and proceeded to pay with them for food and drink in the nearby shops.

Apart from the CCTV footage that captured the perpetrator, detectives carried out urgent forensic tests that confirmed the suspect was Mohammad Idriss.

He was arrested at his home address in Hackney on July 26. He made no comment during his police interviews and was charged and taken into custody shortly after. 

In relation to the sexual assault in Kingston, Idriss had also pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug, theft and fraud offences. 

Detective Constable Troy Sampson, who led the investigation, said: “Mohammad Idriss is an extremely dangerous individual who targeted an innocent woman. His actions that night have caused serious harm and will have a lasting impact.” He also said that he is “pleased with the result in court.”

The specialist measures that were put in place allowed the victim to give her evidence in the presence of the judge and barristers and without having to see Idriss. She was supported by a specialist officer during the investigation and trial. 

According to a 2021 release by the Office for National Statistics, only one in six women reported the sexual assault to the police; 38% of which did not think the police could help.  Detective Constable Sampson said: “Reporting a rape can seem scary or daunting but I want to reassure anyone who this has happened to that we will fully support you and conduct a full and thorough investigation.”