Blythe Road Man Guilty of Raping 80 Year-old in Shepherd's Bush
And police ask for other victims of Robert Lashley to come forward
A man from Blythe Road, W14 who raped a pensioner in her own home has been convicted of the attack.
Robert Lashley, 32 was found guilty of rape at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, January 19.
The court heard that Lashley had targeted his 80 year-old victim last year in Shepherd's Bush as she left her home to go to a newsagents at 7.30am on August 16.
CCTV showed Lashley loitering outside the victim's block of flats where she lives on her own. As she came back he followed into the communal entrance and then forced his way into her flat. He then raped her.
The victim reported the assault to police and Lashley was arrested on August 17 after police identified him from the CCTV images. He was charged later the same day
The victim was able to give evidence against him in court which led to a successful conviction.
The court also heard that Lashley had been jailed for eight years in 2004 for a similar rape on a 59 year-old woman.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Friday, March 6.
Officers believe that Lashley may have targeted other women and are appealing for other possible victims to come forward.
Detective Constable Victoria Kilburn said: "Robert Lashley is a sexual predator who, on 16 August 2014, targeted one of the most vulnerable members of our community and subjected her to an horrific sexual assault.
" This was all the more distressing as the offence occurred in her home, where she should have felt safe. I hope that the sentence today reflects how seriously the police and courts view this type of vile offending.
"I also hope that this sentence will encourage more victims of sexual offending to approach police, in the knowledge you will be believed no matter what age you are, and that the police will seek prosecutions for sexual offences.
"I would like to pay tribute to the victim of this offence. She is a spirited lady who showed great courage and determination, not only during the offence, but also in attending court and giving evidence against Lashley. She has found this experience extremely traumatic and I hope she can recover from this to enjoy her retirement in peace.
"Police are taking the step of releasing Lashley's image today. If you think you have been a victim of Robert Lashley, I would ask you to come forward and speak to police."
Anyone with information is asked to call the police non-emergency line on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
has been placed on the sex offenders' register and given a suspended jail sentence after sexually assaulting a woman on board an Overground train travelling between Fulham and Clapham.
Wimbledon resident Borja De Zuloaga struck on Friday October 31. The victim, a 26-year-old woman, boarded a crowded train with a colleague at Fulham's Imperial Wharf Station around 7.30pm.
While she stood she felt someone brushing their hand over her dress across her left buttock area. Initially the victim thought this was an accident, but then felt fingers of the hand pressing into her left thigh area over her tights. The hand then moved under her dress and was stroking her left buttock over her tights.
The woman tried to move to avoid contact with De Zuloaga, but his hand remained in place. De Zuloaga's hand then moved across to her right buttock and he started to grope it again under her dress, but over her tights.
As the train arrived at Clapham Junction, and people started to get off, the victim could still feel the hand on her buttocks. She twisted to her left and reached behind her, grabbing hold of De Zuloaga's wrists, and removed his hand from touching her. He then pulled his hand away and then went past the woman and left the train.
Following an investigation by British Transport Police, officers identified De Zuloaga through CCTV images.
De Zuloaga was arrested and following an interview was charged with sexual assault and remanded in custody.
Borja De Zuloaga was sentenced at Wimbledon magistrates’ court on Tuesday, January 13, after he pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing on Saturday, December 13.
Detective constable Andrew Parkinson says: "This was repulsive behaviour by De Zuloaga on a very busy and crowded train. He took advantage of the space that he was in an assaulted his victim, I am pleased he has been bought to justice."
De Zuloaga was also sentenced to 20 weeks' in prison, suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay £120 compensation to the victim and £85 in costs. He was also banned from working with children and given a 12 month supervision order.
January 16, 2015
