Man jailed for raping two girls he met online

A man who raped two teenage girls he met on Snapchat has been jailed for nine years, following an investigation by specialist detectives at the Metropolitan Police Service.

On Thursday, 6 March, 2025, Himanshu Makwana, 42 (04.04.1982), of Thurlby Road, Wembley, was jailed at Harrow Crown Court after being convicted on two counts of rape. He will serve an additional four years on extended licence, and will be made to register as a sex offender for life.

The two offences were carried out on separate occasions, four years apart, but both with strikingly similar circumstances.

Detective Constable Lewis Jelley, who led the investigation, said:

“Makwana posed as a young man on social media in order to prey on young girls. He carried out a horrific attack on one woman, and then did the same thing again a few years later. He was brought to justice following a painstaking investigation.

“I want to thank the two brave young women who came forward and reported the offences to us. Without their courage, we would not be in the position we are today.”

In 2019, Makwana used a Snapchat account to communicate with his first victim, who was aged 18. After speaking for a few months, they decided to meet. He drove her to an empty office block, and once inside of the building, he raped her.

The offence was reported to police at the time and no suspect was identified.

In April 2023, Makwana again posed as a 19-year-old man on Snapchat and started speaking to his second victim, who had only recently turned 16.

Shortly afterwards, he parked on a street close to the victim’s school and waited for her, before asking for her help.

The victim agreed and helped Makwana carry some books. He then locked her in his car and identified himself as ‘Samir,’ which was the fake identity he had used on Snapchat. He then drove her to an empty commercial premises and raped her.

Makwana was arrested on Monday, 27 November, 2023 – the day after the second victim reported the incident – thanks to an image captured by a witness which showed the car used in the incident. This enabled officers to locate the vehicle, and arrest Makwana.

Analysis of a DNA sample taken on his arrest identified him as the previously unknown suspect for the offence against the first victim in 2019.

He was then charged with the rapes of both victims on Friday, 22 December, 2023, and remanded in custody ahead of trial.