A man who repeatedly raped a woman during a ‘horrific’ two-hour sexual assault in Greenford has been jailed for life.
Aqil Ali was told he would serve a minimum of 10 years in prison when he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday (October 12).
The 31-year-old had been found guilty of a string of sex offences on September 7 following a six week trial .
He targeted the victim, a woman aged in her late 40s, on her way to work on the morning of March 5.
Ali, from Mornington Road in Greenford was found guilty of 10 offences - kidnapping, two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, attempted rape, actual bodily harm, theft and two offences of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The victim was approached by Ali, described as “cruel and depraved”, who asked her for a cigarette. He then dragged her into a secluded spot in Perivale Park and brutally attacked her, before stealing her money and leaving the scene.
Despite her ordeal and injuries, the victim was able to get to a nearby shop to raise the alarm.
Detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command began an investigation, conducting extensive enquiries and studying CCTV footage from the park.
Footage, seen above, showed Ali obscuring his face with clothing as he entered and left the park.
A DNA match to Ali was later identified and on March 7 he was arrested at his home address, and charged the following day .
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Neil John paid tribute to the brave victim of the “brutal and vicious” attack. He said: “I must firstly express my thanks and admiration for the victim. Despite all that she has endured she has had the courage to give evidence that has seen her attacker brought to justice.
“Be in no doubt, this was a truly horrific crime. Ali was brutal and vicious, and carried out a sustained attack on a woman who was innocently making her way to work.
“I am both pleased and relieved that he has been convicted and that he will now be made to face the consequences of his own cruelty and depravity.”
His Honour Judge McGregor-Johnson also ordered that Ali remain on licence for the rest of his life, and that he be also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
