East London News A Force for the community…
HE WAS convicted of raping a young woman in the Spitalfields area of Tower Hamlets last year. And now Jonathan Graden, 29, of Hackney has had to admit to an earlier offence of a similar nature.
Graden is currently in jail thanks to a prompt and detailed police operation. It was 9th November 2018 when Graden spotted a woman walking along Hanbury Street, Spitalfields. He followed her into a building, overpowered her and raped her.
Police consulted CCTV and were able to establish that the rapist had taken a cab to Belvedere in south-east London. They released CCTV images and appealed for the public to help find the suspect. They also put the image on leaflets which were distributed in their hundreds all around the area where the cab had taken the suspect. As a result of the publicity, Graden handed himself in to police. He was formally arrested on 21st December on suspicion of rape and charged the following day. He pleaded guilty to the charge at Snaresbrook County Court on 21st January 2019.
While prosecuting this case, police noticed that the circumstances of the attack were very similar to an old case involving the rape of a 24 year old woman in February 2011. The victim was a woman walking alone and overpowered by her attacker who raped her. DN
A tests confirmed that Graden was probably the rapist, and when he was confronted about the 2011 case Graden confessed. He was charged and pleased guilty at Snaresbrook County Court earlier today, 3rd June. He was remanded in custody and will return to the Court on 19th July for sentencing.
It is possible that these two women are not Graden’s only victims. Anyone who has been attacked and recognises Graden is encouraged to contact the police, where specialist officers will be ready to talk to and support them.
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