A 20-year-old man has been jailed after being convicted of multiple rapes following two trials in the UK.
Eniola Balogun was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, December 15, to a total of 21 years’ imprisonment
Balogun, of no fixed address but from the Tottenham area pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on 19 September to four counts of rape on four separate teenage girls, aged between 13 and 16 – he also pleaded guilty to the possession of indecent images of child.
Balogun had been found guilty of a further three counts of rape following an earlier trial at the same venue on 30 March. These offences related to one victim – a 16-year-old girl.
The Judge also ordered Balogun is subject to an extended licence period of eight years which will come into effect on his release from prison.
Balogun will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Balogun, a US citizen, was living with his family in Tottenham at the time of his offending. Whilst there, between June and August 2016, he persuaded young girls through social media (Snapchat and Instagram) or in the street, to send him indecent photographs.
Armed with these photos, he threatened to distribute the images unless they met up with him.
When they met up, he raped them. On all occasions, Balogun took their phones off them and promised to return their phones after sexual contact. Two of the victims were threatened with violence if they resisted.
The five victims, aged between 13 and 16 years old, met up at a variety of locations in Tottenham, Harlow, Thamesmead and Woolwich. Some victims were told to perform sexual acts via video on more than one occasion.
Detective Sergeant Tony Killeen, from the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said:
“I wish to acknowledge the courage of these young people in coming forward and providing the vital evidence needed to prosecute Balogun.
“The teenage girls were victims of online sexual offences and did not recognise that they were being abused. He used his social media profile to gain their trust, share intimate photos and then used those images to coerce his victims into sexual activity.
“My advice to any child or young person is: do not share pictures online that you would find embarrassing if anyone else, such as your friends or parents were to see them as you have no control over the images once sent. But if you are worried about someone sharing intimate pictures of you online please don’t let embarrassment stop you from contacting the police. Alternatively, online abuse can be reported online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. Advice on online grooming can be found on many websites such as the NSPCC.
“Balogun is a prolific sexual offender and it cannot be discounted that he has sexually abused other people. If you have been a victim of Balogun, please contact police via 101 – specially trained officers are there to support you.”
