CCTV footage shows rapist 'prowling' outside west London park before attacking woman in daylight

Chilling CCTV footage has been released in which a rapist is seen prowling outside a park before he subjected a woman to a horrific two-hour sex attack in broad daylight.

Aqil Ali, approached the victim, who is in her late 40s, in Perivale Park in West London on 5 March 2016. He asked her whether she had a cigarette, then dragged her to a secluded spot in the park where her repeatedly raped her.

The 31-year-old, of Mornington Road, Greenford, fled the scene after stealing money from the victim who managed to raise the alarm at a nearby shop.

Ali was caught on CCTV as he entered and left the park, and is seen to be masking his face with his clothing. He was arrested at his home on 7 March after a positive DNA match.

Detective Inspector Neil John, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "I must firstly express my thanks and admiration for the victim. Despite all that she has endured, she has had the courage to give evidence that has seen her attacker brought to justice.

"Be in no doubt, this was a truly horrific crime. Ali was brutal and vicious, and carried out a sustained attack on a woman who was innocently making her way to work. I am both pleased and relieved that he has been convicted and that he will now be made to face the consequences of his own cruelty and depravity."

Following a six-day-trial at Isleworth Crown Court, on 7 September of this year, Ali was found guilty of multiple sexual offences including, kidnapping, two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, attempted rape, actual bodily harm, theft and two offences of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent Mirror Online reports.

He will have to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison and was also placed on the sex offenders register for life. Due to the seriousness of his crimes, the convicted rapist will remain on licence for the rest of his life.