Rapist jailed after attack on girl, 13, in alleyway

A rapist who carried out a "predatory and calculated" attack on a 13-year-old girl in a south London alleyway has been jailed for seven years.

The Metropolitan Police said Sorosh Amini, 21, followed the teenager "in broad daylight" on North End Road, Croydon, last August and tried to force drugs on her before the sexual assault.

The 21-year-old was sentenced on Friday at Croydon Crown Court after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Amini was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Det Insp Donnett Oseni, who led the investigation said: "Amini's attack on this vulnerable girl was predatory and calculated.

"He has demonstrated himself to be a dangerous sexual offender and this sentence prevents him from harming anyone else," Det Insp Oseni added.

"I want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward and reporting this offence to us.

"I hope today's verdict will bring her and her family some semblance of closure."

The Met Police said Amini "persistently tried to engage in conversation with her and would not leave her alone, following her down North End Road and into an alleyway".

He then forcibly kissed her and tried to put a cannabis joint into her mouth, the force said. Amini told her he was friends with someone who was responsible for a recent stabbing in the area, which made the victim afraid that he may have had a knife. Amini then raped her, police said.

The day after the attack, Amini left his home for Liverpool. But police tracked him down using phone data and CCTV with an arrest five days later, the Met said.

Amini was then convicted following a two-week trial in January.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]