A Eritrean migrant has been found guilty of raping an elderly man besides a church in north London on July 23rd last year, dragging the pensioner behind a hoarding to carry out the sustained attack.
And it has now been revealed that Bruke Desalagne, 33, came to Britain illegally and then and claimed asylum, which was granted in 2022. He was described by police who worked on the case of the vile rape as a “dangerous offender who targeted a defenceless, vulnerable, elderly man”.
Desalagne took advantage of the elderly man’s intoxication to drag him from a bench and then raped the pensioner behind the hoarding outside St John’s Church in Harrow, north London while pedestrians passed unaware and traffic drove by.
But a witness saw some of the 20-minute assault from her window and phoned the police, The Telegraph reports.
Barrister for prosecution, Simon Shannon, prosecuting, told the court: “You can see the defendant dragging the heavily intoxicated victim from the bench where he was sitting, and dragged him to the grass area.”
St John’s Church: Facebook
A jury at Harrow Crown Court found Desalagne guilty of rape after viewing CCTV of the prolonged attack which occurred close to midnight. In addition, the witness provided footage from her phone to the police which she provided to the police.
Whenever a member of the public walked by where the assault was talking place, Desalagne would pause the attack, the court was told.
Throughout the trial, the defendant displayed no visible emotion, drinking water as CCTV footage was played in the courtroom, GB News said.
Detective Constable Luke Revill of the Metropolitan Police said: “Bruke Desalagne is a dangerous offender who targeted a defenceless, vulnerable, elderly man.
“Thanks to members of the public alerting the police, he was arrested at the scene, charged the following day and remanded by the courts.
“We are committed to bringing sexual predators like Desalagne to justice.
“We would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar offending to get in touch with the police.
“You will be supported and listened to by officers.”