Overview
- The jury at Harrow Crown Court found Bruke Desalagne, 33, guilty of raping a heavily intoxicated elderly man beside St John’s Church after deliberating for about two hours.
- Prosecutors relied on council CCTV and a witness’s mobile phone footage that showed Desalagne dragging the victim behind a hoarding and pausing the assault when passers-by approached.
- A witness dialled police after seeing part of the attack and officers arrived within five minutes to arrest Desalagne at the scene, with the Metropolitan Police describing him as a dangerous offender.
- Desalagne did not give evidence at trial and required an interpreter throughout proceedings, and one outlet reports he entered the UK clandestinely, claimed asylum and was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2022; that immigration detail is limited-source reporting.
- He remains remanded and will be sentenced in the autumn, after which the Home Office has said it will seek his removal and deny refugee protections though deportation can be delayed or challenged by legal and practical barriers.