Moped Sex Beast Who Attacked Lone Young Women Is Caged

A moped-riding sexual predator, who attacked two lone women days apart, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Shahan Ai, 23, of Shurland Gardens, Willowbrook Estate, Peckham pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault.

Woolwich Crown Court also made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

On the morning of Saturday November 11, last year a 19-year-old woman was walking to work in Lewisham when she was followed by a black moped being ridden on the pavement.

The moped followed her as she crossed the road multiple times to get away, before Ali - the pillion passenger - jumped off the bike and pushed the woman against a wall.

Ali sexually assaulted the victim and tried unsuccessfully to take her handbag.

The woman managed to free herself and ran away, but Ali sexually assaulted her further and then shouted after her.

Ali then jumped onto the moped and the rider - who remained on the moped for the entirety of the assault - drove off.

On Tuesday November 14 at 1.45am, a second 19-year-old woman was in Southwark walking home when a moped rode up behind her and Ali – again the passenger - sexually assaulted her.

Ali subsequently got off the moped, pushed the woman against a wall and sexually assaulted her whilst making threats towards her.

As two cars passed by, Ali walked away momentarily and the woman escaped, however Ali got back on the moped and chased her down the road, before getting back off the moped and subjecting the woman to a further sexual assault.

After some minutes, Ali returned to the moped and the woman hurried to the nearest doorway.

Before the woman could ring the doorbell, Ali approached her for a third time and trapped her in the doorway; making sexual demands and threats towards her.

Ali subjected the victim to a further sexual assault for over ten minutes, during which time he physically prevented her from ringing the doorbell or calling for help.

Ali wiped the woman with an item, in an apparent calculated attempt to remove DNA evidence.

Ali got back on the moped and the rider - again, who remained on the moped for the entirety of the assaults - drove off.

Detectives from the Met's Venice Investigation Team identified Shahan Ali as a suspect, and a warrant was executed at his home address.

The second suspect, the driver of the moped, remains unknown.

He wore a black helmet, balaclava, and black clothing. He drove a black and silver coloured moped.

Detective Constable Henry Vernon, who led the investigation said: "Shahan Ali and his accomplice targeted lone females and subjected them to protracted sexual assaults.

“Both men present a potential risk to the public, and although Ali is now imprisoned, I implore anyone with information regarding the driver of the moped to come forward."