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Police call for crackdown on ‘rape porn’ after man copied videos in London sex attack

Man had been viewing videos with ‘striking similarities to the assault he would eventually commit’

Lizzie Dearden
Home Affairs Correspondent
Saturday 07 September 2019 19:31 BST
Jamel Nwokoye, 30, was jailed for trying to rape a woman in Hackney
Jamel Nwokoye, 30, was jailed for trying to rape a woman in Hackney (Met Police)

Police have called for a crackdown on “rape porn” after a man appeared to imitate videos he had watched in a sex attack in London.

Jamel Nwokoye was jailed for dragging a woman into a park by her hair in the early hours of the morning, before she managed to fight him off and run.

The 30-year-old was found guilty of assault with intent to commit rape and jailed for four years at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Investigators who analysed his mobile phone found an “extensive history” of extreme pornography depicting forced sex and violence towards women.

Detective Constable Mark Longley, who led the investigation, said: “This case raises legitimate questions about the availability of so-called ‘rape porn’ and the extent to which this may have contributed to Nwokoye’s offending.

“This is commercially produced material that is specifically themed to depict forced sex and violence towards women.

“It is notable that Nwokoye was accessing this material in the days leading up to this incident – some of which bore striking similarities to the assault he would eventually commit.”

The Metropolitan Police said he followed a 28-year-old woman as she walked athrough Hackney at around 2am on 27 April 2018.

“As they reached the pedestrian entrance to Shoreditch Park, he ran up behind her and grabbed her hair, dragging her into the centre of the park,” a spokesperson said.

“The victim fought against Nwokoye but he responded by repeatedly punching and kicking her in the face and body, while continuing to pull her into the darkness.

“Several members of the public overheard the woman’s screams and entered the park to try and find her, while also calling the police.

“After several minutes, she managed to wrestle free and was able to run away, following which Nwokoye also fled the scene.”

Detectives uncovered CCTV showing Nwokoye starting to follow the victim before the attack.

They found that he had been wandering the area for 45 minutes looking for a target, and traced him back to his home using the footage.

Nwokoye, of Coronet Street in Hackney, was also given an extended licence and supervision period of four years after he is released from prison and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

DC Longley said: “Nwokoye is a sexual predator and the CCTV footage demonstrates that he was prowling the streets of Hackney in the early hours of the morning before he alighted on his victim.

“He subjected her to a truly terrifying ordeal which has caused lasting psychological harm. I hope that with the conclusion of this case she is now able to move forward with her life.”

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