Met officers worked a number of 24-hour shifts to secure a rape charge, leading to a dangerous predator from north London being sentenced to ten years in jail.
African Rafat Galhad (15.09.93) of Ashmount Road, Tottenham, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on Thursday, 4 July at Wood Green Crown Court for one count of rape and one count of attempted rape against one woman.
Detective Constable Imran Musalman, the officer leading the investigation, said:
“Galhad was a dangerous sexual predator who targeted the victim-survivor while she was on a night out. This sentence sends a clear message to would-be offenders – the police will actively pursue and prosecute offenders using the full extent of the law.
“Violence against women and girls has a profound and long-lasting impact on those affected. Such violence affects local communities and impacts how safe people feel where they live, and how confident they are in their local police. Our job is to safeguard victims and secure justice for them. We will not stop in our mission to tackle violence against women and girls.”
Police were first made aware of Galhad when the victim-survivor made an emergency call on December 2023 to say she had been raped at a property in east London.
The victim-survivor had been out with friends in Hackney on Kingsland Road when Galhad offered to walk the victim home. He then subjected the victim-survivor to a violent rape, causing multiple injuries.
Immediately responding to the call, local officers worked quickly to find Galhad, arresting him within 24 hours, and interviewed him immediately . Specialist officers then worked tirelessly to build a watertight case against Galhad, resulting in him being charged two days after the incident.
He was sent to trial at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 10 June, where he pleaded guilty to his offences.
Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for all officers across the Met, from specialist teams, to local neighbourhood officers. As part of A New Met for London, the Met is doing more to support communities and people who’ve had their trust damaged. More officers and teams are focusing on protecting women and children from violence and targeting predatory men who commit those crimes.
To find out more about reporting a rape or sexual assault, visit: https://www.met.police.uk/advi… Always call 999 in an emergency.