Owen Ali-Balogun "Raped & Defiled" a Prostitute

Owen Ali-Balogun, described as "a Tottenham man", knocked a prostitute unconscious before raping her and defiling her body.

From The Haringey Independent:

A VIOLENT Tottenham man has been jailed for eight years and placed on the sex offenders register for life after raping a prostitute he had knocked unconscious.

Owen Ali-Balogun, 28, of Vartry Road, appeared at Lewes Crown Court, in East Sussex, this afternoon after being convicted at the Old Bailey on June 22.

In the early hours of Wednesday December 3, 2008, the 43-year-old sex worker was soliciting in Seven Sisters when Ali-Balogun came out of an off-licence, approached her and propositioned her for sex.

The pair entered a small park area at Manchester Road, in Tottenham, and Ali-Balogun started to touch her before handing over payment.

When the victim rebuffed his advances he delivered a heavy blow to her head which knocked her unconcsious.

It was then, when she was unable to defend herself or run away, that Ali-Balogun raped her and defiled her body.

The victim woke to find her face bleeding and her body aching which resulted in extensive bruising to her back, neck and head.

Sentencing Judge David Rennie said Ali-Balogun posed a "serious and significant risk to the public" having displayed a disturbing pattern of violence that was over and above a serious level of force.

He added: "You chose to hurt and humiliate her for pleasure."

The High Court judge imposed an indeterminate term with a compulsory eight years.

Ali-Balogun, who gave the victim the finger during the trial, had been released from prison on licence just three weeks earlier following a robbery conviction.

He will now have to serve the remainder of that term and his eight-year rape sentence will start in March 2012.

After the attack the brave victim sought help from a passer-by and made her way to a friend’s house and was encouraged to report the incident to police.

An investigation was launched and the woman was taken to The Haven, a specially designated place for survivors of Rape and Sexual Assaults, where she received support and was examined.

Ali-Balogun was eventually caught after officers identified vital CCTV evidence of a man wearing clothing as described by the victim in the off-licence prior to the attack.

DNA evidence obtained from the woman’s clothing identified Owen Ali-Balogun.

On January 14, 2009, police searched his home and found a black hat with ear flaps and a black jacket that matched the clothing described by the victim and identified as being worn by the suspect on CCTV.

He was arrested and charged on January 15, 2009.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Amanda Christodoulou, of Haringey’s Sapphire Unit, said: "Owen Ali-Balogun’s conviction is testament to the strength and bravery of the woman who came forward and gave evidence. This was a callous, vicious attack and she still bears the scars of what this man did to her.

"I feel honoured to have worked with such a brave woman and hope that she can try and move forward with her life, knowing her attacker has been taken off the streets.

"We encourage victims of rape to have the confidence to come forward to police as soon as possible. Every single allegation will be investigated professionally and sensitively and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice".