News
Man jailed for removing condom during intercourse without consent
A man has been jailed for removing a condom during sex without consent.
According to report, an investigation by the Met’s Public Protection team has resulted in a lengthy sentence for a man who was convicted of a sex offence.
Laurence Rafter, 43 (01.09.81) of Bittacy Hill, Barnet appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 28 February where he was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment after officers were able to prove that he had removed a condom during sex without consent.
He was convicted at the same court on 18 October 2024 for all offences in a unanimous verdict by the jury. He also pleaded guilty last year to harassment against the same victim.
The court heard that on 15 July 2021, the 32-year-old survivor was contacted by the defendant on a dating app. He posed as a man called “Jay Lincoln” and met the victim at her home address in Islington.
The defendant then proceeded to rape the victim who specifically requested the defendant wear a condom, despite him repeatedly requesting not to wear one.
As he left the address he stated that he was HIV Positive which was later revealed to be a lie. The victim reported the incident to the Met who launched an immediate investigation and supported the victim.
Detectives from the Public Protection Serious Sexual Offences Team were able to identify Rafter through a distinctive tattoo on his arm recorded by police on a previous arrest which matched photos he had sent to the victim in this case.
Enquiries showed the level of pre-planning that Rafter had done to commit his offences, creating an alias, setting up a false address and bank statement, and using a disposable ‘pre-paid’ mobile phone in a bid to avoid police detection.
His false driving licence included a pseudonym and he claimed to live in a prosperous area of London in a multi-million pound house.
In reality, he was employed as an HGV driver and lived in a flat.
The court also heard that the defendant was previously known for sexually predatory behaviour towards women.
In February 2022 he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to malicious communications and threats to disclose a private image relating to two separate victims.
In those cases, he also posed online using an alias, met the women, and subsequently became abusive and threatening towards both women via text messages as well as demanding explicit images.
After appearing in court on Friday, 28 February, Rafter was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was ordered to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley said: “I would like to commend this survivor for the bravery she demonstrated in this case and the evidence she provided. The robust sentence delivered by the judge demonstrates the significant dangerousness that this man poses to women.
“The investigation team carried out an expansive, diligent, and relentless investigation to identify Rafter and secured the evidence to bring him to justice ensuring that the victim was supported throughout.
“Rafter is a predatory offender who exploited social media to facilitate his violent and abusive behaviour.
He devised a fictitious profile posing as a wealthy businessman with multiple businesses around the world in a calculated campaign to violate, threaten, and harm the women he met.”
The Met is putting extra people into specialist Public Protection teams to prioritize this critical work and target offenders, with officers and staff working more closely with partners across London to protect victim-survivors and bring offenders to justice.
Police are aiming to do much more to identify and tackle the most dangerous and prolific perpetrators of Violence Against Women and Girls, identifying high-risk and high-harm locations, and making better use of police powers to protect women and girls from perpetrators.
Credit: Metropolitan Police, UK
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria has congratulated South Africa on the celebration of its 31st Freedom Day anniversary, marking more than three decades since the end of apartheid rule.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday in Abuja, the Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, extended warm greetings to his South African counterpart, His Excellency Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
Ambassador Tuggar described the day as a reminder of the historic victory of democracy over apartheid and a celebration of the resilient and unified spirit that continues to shape South Africa’s journey.
“Nigeria and South Africa share a profound bond forged through decades of solidarity in the liberation struggle. As we reflect on this milestone, we recall Nigeria’s unwavering support for the anti-apartheid movement, including diplomatic, material, and moral contributions that underscored our commitment to justice and the ethos of pan-Africanism,” the statement read.
Highlighting the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, Tuggar emphasized the shared responsibility Nigeria and South Africa have in promoting peace, security, and inclusive development across the African continent.
He noted that as Africa’s two largest economies and democracies, there is a need to strengthen collaboration in areas such as trade and investment through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as cultural exchanges and youth empowerment.
“Therefore, on this Freedom Day, we stand with South Africa in honouring the sacrifices of heroes like Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Thabo Mbeki and recommit to working together to realize the vision of a prosperous, peaceful, and united Africa,” he added.
The Enugu Caucus in the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s plan to concession the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, describing it as a potential catalyst for the Southeast economy.
The caucus commended the Federal Government for the initiative and urged it to hasten the process to enable the people of the Southeast and the nation to benefit from it in earnest.
It also called on the people of the region to support the concession as the only way to guarantee sustainable investment to fully develop the airport into a truly international facility.
Cardinals will meet next month in a secret conclave to elect the next pope, the Vatican has said.
The closed-door meeting will start inside the Sistine Chapel on 7 May and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world.
It follows the death of Pope Francis who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday and whose funeral was held on Saturday.
There is no timescale as to how long it will take to elect the next pope, but the previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said cardinals will take part in a solemn mass at St Peter’s Basilica, after which those eligible to vote will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the secretive ballot.
Once they enter the Sistine Chapel, cardinals must have no communication with the outside world until a new Pope is elected.
There is only one round of voting on the first afternoon of the conclave, but the cardinals will vote up to four times every day afterwards.
A new pope requires a two-thirds majority – and that can take time.
Each cardinal casts his vote on a simple card that says, in Latin: “I elect as Supreme Pontiff” to which they add the name of their chosen candidate.
If the conclave completes its third day without reaching a decision, the cardinals may pause for a day of prayer.
Outside the Sistine Chapel the world will be watching for the smoke from the chimney.
If the smoke is black, there will be another round of voting. White smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.
On Saturday, politicians and royalty joined thousands of mourners as Pope Francis’ funeral was held in St Peter’s Square.
Hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, before 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re gave a homily on the pope’s legacy.
After a ceremony, huge crowds lined the streets of Rome to watch as the Pope’s coffin was carried in a procession to his final resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Authorities said 140,000 people had lined the streets, clapping and waving as the hearse – a repurposed white popemobile – crossed the Tiber river and drove past some of Rome’s most recognisable sights: the Colosseum, the Forum and the Altare della Patria national monument on Piazza Venezia.
On Sunday images of Pope Francis’s tomb at the church were released showing a single white rose lying on the stone that bears the name he was known by during his pontificate, below a crucifix illuminated by a single spotlight.
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