A man has been jailed for life in prison for a series of rapes and sexual assaults in east London.
Liban Abdi, 28, unemployed of Woodstock Terrace, E14, was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 9 February, of two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, one of attempted rape, assault by beating, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by penetration.
He was sentenced on Thursday, 28 April at the same court to a life term with a minimum of 12 years.
The court heard that Abdi was linked to attacks on five women that were committed between 29 November 2014 and 29 April 2015 in the Poplar and Bethnal Green areas.
Detective Constable Tim Duffin, from the Met’s Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: “Abdi targeted lone women and put them through a terrible ordeal. I would like to praise their bravery in coming forward and continued support throughout the investigation. It is thanks to them that this dangerous man is in prison.
“It is possible that there may be other women who were attacked by Abdi who are yet to contact police. I would ask them to call us so that we can help in any way possible.”
Detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command linked Abdi to the five assaults after reviewing CCTV footage from the local area and recovering the clothing he wore during the incidents.
Three of the attacks took place on the same day.
At approximately 09:00hrs on 29 November 2014, Abdi attacked a 75-year-old woman as she walked along Ming Street, E14. He rummaged through her pockets before sexually assaulting her and punching her to the ground.
That afternoon, Abdi approached a 19-year-old woman in the underpass by the Docklands Light Railway at Blackwall before sexually assaulting her.
About an hour later, Abdi sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman and punched her several times in the face whilst in the stairwell of flats on Commercial Road, E14.
In the early hours of 4 December 2014, Aldi approached a 29-year-old woman in Elizabeth Close, E14. He grabbed her from behind and dragged her to an area of wasteland close to Duff Street where he raped her. Footage recovered from a night bus showed a suspect had travelled with the victim before getting off at the same stop, and this CCTV was circulated.
Abdi was arrested on 7 December 2014. When interviewed he denied all the offences, and he was bailed whilst officers gathered vital forensic evidence.
At about 06:10hrs on 29 April 2015, a 25-year-old woman who was heading home from work was attacked and sexually assaulted close to Hackney Road, E2.
Abdi was arrested that afternoon and charged with all five offences. He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 9 February 2016 and sentenced as above.
On sentencing Abdi the Judge – Grace Amakye – commended DC Tim Duffin and PC Laura Kilbey for their public service, investigation and conduct.
Source: Met Police
