THIS WEEK Papis Cante, 36, of St John’s Court, Queen’s Drive, Hackney was brought to Wood Green Crown Court – and pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, relating to events which occurred over the summer.
The first rape occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 22nd July – at a time when taxis are not too plentiful. A 22 year old woman was trying to get home from Leicester Square, and she agreed to share a taxi with Cante. She thought the taxi would take each of them to where they were going. However, the taxi took them to a place near Seven Sisters Road, N4 – and Cante dragged her out of the car and into a side road, where he committed the rape.
On 29th August, just after midnight, Cante overpowered a woman in Leicester Square Tube Station. He forced her onto a train to Finsbury Park. When the train got to that station, he forced her out of the Tube and along the street to an alleyway, where he committed a second rape.
Fortunately detectives realised quickly that the two attacks were linked. They were able to take an image of their suspect from CCTV at Finsbury Park which was released to the public, leading to the identification of the suspect. Cante was quickly found and arrested. At first he denied the offences, but he changed his plea when DNA evidence confirmed he was the rapist. He was held in custody until his trial and will return to the Court in November for sentencing.
Detective Constable Daniel Brown, from the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said, “I am pleased that Cante has entered a guilty plea as this will prevent the victims from having to give evidence in court in addition to the distress of the attacks. Cante was very brazen in the way he approached the women whilst other members of the public were around. He was prepared to take the risk and when members of the public approached him he was able to talk his way out of it by pretending to be helping the women when he was in fact taking them to a place where he felt he would be able to commit the offences. He is a very dangerous offender.”
•The Met also said that anyone who feels they may have been victim to a similar attack but has not reported this to police is encouraged to call the investigation team on 020-8217 6541 or via 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111, where you can give information anonymously.
•Read more about it: Teacher jailed for sexual activity with a boy Bow rapist gets 14 years
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