Park Prowler Locked-Up After One Week Of Terror

A sexual predator has been caged for his one-week reign of terror against women in an east London park.

Caise Bidounga, 22, of St Andrew's Road, Ilford, struck four times on his last day roaming Roding Valley Park, Wanstead.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment, three years of extra parole and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape; three counts of sexual assault and three counts of exposure.

Between September 11 and 17, last year Bidounga exposed himself to, or sexually assaulted, seven women aged between 18 and 42 years-old.

Police received a report on September 17 of an 18-year-old woman having been sexually assaulted in Roding Valley Park.

An investigation was launched by detectives from East Area Command during which further victims were identified. 

A police appeal for witnesses was issued as part of the investigation and this too identified further victims.

Bidounga was arrested two days later on on September 19.

Detective Sergeant Laura Martin said: “Bidounga’s attacks were clearly escalating. 

“Over the course of one week he went from exposing himself to a woman to actually sexually assaulting four women in one day.

“This case demonstrates perfectly the need for offences such as this to be reported to police. 

“Even if nobody is injured, sexual predators cannot be permitted to roam free posing a threat to women and girls.

“Despite none of the women sustaining physical injuries, the effects of being a victim of a sexual offence can be long lasting and we are very grateful to those women who came forward to support this investigation and hope they feel that justice has been served.

“I have no doubt, that had they not come forward, Bidounga would have continued in his escalating pattern of offending.”