Today, Oluwadamilare Baiyewu, 22, who posed as a church volunteer to mask his sexual depravity, was jailed for 24 years for the horrific assaults. He was described as a dangerous, calculating and predatory rapist who created the image he was the pillar of the community by helping out at the church.
The court heard how Baiyewu first grabbed a 17-year-old at knife point on December 2, 2015, but she managed to break free and escape. A week later, in the same area of Binsey Walk, Thamesmead, he grabbed a victim, also 17, as she got off the bus at 7pm.
He put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her before marching her into a bin storage area under a walkway. He then raped her in a secluded area. He was tracked down after DNA linking him to the attacks was recovered. He was arrested on December 16.
He will serve a minimum of 16 years in prison and will then be on license for 8 years. Detective Constable Chris Hammond of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: “I would like to praise his victims for having the strength to come forward and give their evidence in court.
The streets of Thamesmead are now a safer place without the presence of Baiyewu. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Baiyewu refused to accept his guilt. He manipulated the legal system to cause two trials to be adjourned which caused both victims further distress.
I would like to thank the two victims in this case who maintained their commitment to the prosecution despite Baiyewu’s deliberate attempts to prolong proceedings. Thankfully their will to see Baiyewu pay for his crimes enabled the trial to proceed at the third attempt and Baiyewu was rightly convicted of all charges.”
