Bruke Desalagne, 33, has been found guilty of raping a pensioner outside St John's church in Harrow, north London. The attack occurred around midnight on July 23 last year, when Desalagne dragged the victim, who was heavily intoxicated, from a bench to a grass verge behind hoarding near the church.
A witness observed the 20-minute assault from her window and alerted the police. CCTV footage showed vehicles and a double-decker bus passing close to the scene while the attack was in progress. The prosecution stated that Desalagne paused the assault whenever members of the public walked nearby.
During police interviews, Desalagne, who used an interpreter during the trial, claimed he was attempting to assist the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons. However, after being shown the council camera footage, he stopped the interview and refused to speak further or testify at trial.
Officers arrived to find Desalagne standing behind the church sign, with the victim lying nearby. Detective Constable Luke Revill described Desalagne as a "dangerous offender" who targeted a "defenceless, vulnerable, elderly man." He added that Desalagne was arrested at the scene and charged the following day.
The defense argued that there was no evidence of rape and urged jurors to avoid a 'knee-jerk' reaction. Desalagne remained emotionless during the trial proceedings.
Authorities are urging anyone who has been a victim of similar offenses to contact the police, assuring them of support and that they will be listened to.