A late-night wannabe bus stop rapist - caught solely by a suspicious CCTV operator - is starting a four-year prison sentence.
Student Rami Othmane, 21, was prosecuted despite the female victim refusing to help police and investigating officers relying heavily on the quality of the images.
The Sicilian resident of Arabic heritage was living in Hackney, east London, where he preyed on the lone woman at 4am.
Police have described him as “dangerous” and his behaviour as “atrocious”.
He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to one count of attempted rape and was sentenced today.
The court heard the CCTV operator observed Othmane trying to force the woman to perform a sex act on him in Allerton Road on January 22, this year.
Police were alerted and rushed to the bus stop, but Othmane had already fled.
They spoke to the woman, but she refused to co-operate or give a statement to police.
However, officers were determined to track their suspect down, due to the seriousness of what was caught on CCTV, and launched an investigation.
Using local CCTV they tracked Othmane’s movements and a resident at one address he visited told officers on January 30 where they could find him.
Police attended his home and noticed the coat their suspect was wearing that night was at the residence.
Detective Constable Dave Barrett said: “It is with huge thanks to the diligent CCTV operator, who spotted this alarming incident and immediately called police, allowing the officers to act quickly and locate the victim and ultimately put this man behind bars.
“We fully respect the victim’s decision not to make a report, but we hope today’s outcome proves that we took this incident, like all sexual offences, extremely seriously and will work tirelessly to trace those who think they can commit atrocious crimes such as this.
“Othmane is dangerous individual and he may well have caused serious harm to others if he wasn’t apprehended.”
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