A “vicious” sex offender who raped a homeless woman and mocked her by telling her no one would believe her later has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison.
On November 11, 2019, Mohammed Tarik, 21, pursued his victim across central London before attacking her in a desolate area close to St Thomas’ Hospital.
After a 30-minute encounter, her face was left bleeding and battered.
The woman was then informed by a remorseless Tarik that no one would believe or care if she reported the incident because she was homeless.
Despite the plea, Tarik was not recognized as the attacker despite CCTV footage of him being shown on Crimewatch.
Two years later, on October 30, 2021, Tarik attempted to chat up another woman in Paddington. When she refused his advances, he dragged her down an alleyway and assaulted her.
He was caught by a member of the public – who confronted him and phoned the police
Officers attended the scene and arrested Tarik.
Tarik’s DNA was obtained, and he was connected to the sex assault that occurred two years earlier close to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
The Bayswater resident Tarik confessed to four counts of rape, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault by penetration in connection with the 2019 attack.
In the aftermath of the 2021 event, he also admitted to robbery and assault causing actual bodily harm. Total incarceration time for Tarik was 16 and a half years.
Tarik’s first victim, according to Carly Loftus of the CPS, was so traumatized that she had to go back to her home country.
Ms Loftus said: ‘Mohammed Tarik targeted women when they were most vulnerable – while they were alone and in the dark. His attacks were vicious and in retaliation to his advances being rejected.
‘Tarik raped his first victim for 30 minutes in a prolonged and sustained assault before cruelly telling her that no one would care about her because she was homeless.
‘The prosecution case included DNA evidence obtained during the first attack.
‘After Tarik was caught for the second attack, he provided a DNA sample to police which was found to match the DNA in the rape case from two years before. This forensic link meant Tarik had nowhere to turn.
‘These victims have suffered severe mental trauma as a result of Tarik’s behaviour.
‘The first victim felt she could no longer live in this country and moved back to her native country. I hope these convictions give the victims some sense of closure in the knowledge that justice has been served.’
Detective Inspector Ian Kenward, the investigating officer, said: ‘Tarik is clearly a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk to woman.