Man jailed following violent sexual assault in Croydon

A man has been jailed after being convicted of multiple sexual offences against the same woman.

Met officers worked a number of 24-hour shifts to secure charges, leading to a dangerous predator from south London being sentenced to 14 years in jail.

Heilab Assefa, 29 (09.03.95), of London Road, Croydon, was sentenced to 14 years and four months' imprisonment, and eight years on license on Tuesday, 1 October at Croydon Crown Court for grievous bodily harm and offences of sexual assault.

Detective Sergeant Tim Walter, who led this case said: “Assefa is a dangerous sexual predator who targeted the victim-survivor whilst she was outside his address. This sentence sends a clear message to would-be offenders - the police will actively pursue and prosecute offenders using the full extent of the law.

“I would also like to commend the incredible work of DC Hannah Bates and PC Rose Mason. Without their outstanding detective ability and impressive skillsets, the evidence required to convict Assefa would not have been secured.”

“Violence against women and girls has a profound and long-lasting impact on those affected. Such violence affects local communities and impacts how safe people feel where they live, and how confident they are in their local police. Our job is to safeguard victims and secure justice for them. We will not stop in our mission to tackle violence against women and girls.”

Around midnight on 18 November 2023, officers responded quickly to reports that a young woman had been assaulted on London Road in Croydon.

Assefa had met the women for the first time earlier in the evening. However, only a few hours later he began a violent assault which he also filmed. He was arrested at the scene.

Specialist officers then worked tirelessly to build a watertight case against Assefa, resulting in him being charged the day after the incident.

He was sent to trial at Croydon Crown Court, but due to the overwhelming evidence presented by officers he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault on Monday, 3 June.

Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for all officers across the Met, from specialist teams, to local neighbourhood officers. As part of A New Met for London, the Met is doing more to support communities and people who've had their trust damaged. More officers and teams are focusing on protecting women and children from violence and targeting predatory men who commit those crimes. 

To find out more about reporting a rape or sexual assault, visit our website. Always call 999 in an emergency.