Man jailed for raping young girl

An investigation by Met detectives has resulted in a man being jailed after being convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a young girl.

Jose Bantina-Lubangusu, 53 (02.04.70), of Wick Road, E9, was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and sexual touching of a child under the age of 13.

He was convicted following a trial which concluded at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, 21 December.

He was sentenced at the same court on Thursday, 29 February to ten years’ imprisonment and given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard how Bantina-Lubangusu subjected the girl – who was known to him - to years of sexual abuse, culminating in an incident where he raped her in a Manchester hotel room in Sacha's Hotel in January 2022.

The girl was 12 when the sexual abuse started and 16 when she was raped. Throughout this time, Bantina-Lubangusu groomed the girl including by sometimes leaving money in her shoes and then claiming she could pay it back by having sex with him.

The girl confided in her sister about the abuse and in December 2022 a report was made to police. Bantina-Lubangusu was arrested, and detectives began to compile evidence against him, including an audio recording of him admitting to the abuse.

After being charged and despite the damning evidence Bantina-Lubangusu chose to plead not guilty and a trial took place. After a two-and-a-half-week trial the jury found Bantina-Lubangusu guilty of the attacks.

Detective Constable Hannah Burgess, from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “The bravery this young woman has shown throughout is commendable.

"It is due to her that Jose Bantina-Lubangusu has been put before the court and made to face the consequences of his disgusting and evil crimes.

“Throughout the investigation, detectives have built a comprehensive case against Bantina-Lubangusu while keeping this young woman at the heart of our work.

"I hope seeing him jailed can offer her a small degree of comfort and relief during what has been an extremely difficult time for her.”