North London Court Convicts Man Who Raped Sleeping Woman.
On Monday, 36-year-old Marcelle DaCosta was found guilty of raping a sleeping woman by a unanimous jury at London's Wood Green Crown Court.
The court heard that the victim, who was in her twenties at the time of the alleged assault, had attended a party in Enfield on February 6, 2021, and then travelled to two other locations with DaCosta and two other persons.
Twice, the woman who was "scarcely known" to DaCosta attempted to leave the gatherings, and when the victim was sleeping at the second Enfield residence on February 7, 2021, DaCosta sexually assaulted her.
Six days later, she contacted police about the event, and investigators from the North Area's Public Protection team began looking into it.
Specialized police personnel were on ground to provide help to the woman.
On April 19th, 2021, DaCosta was taken into custody on suspicion of rape; he was formally charged on December 23rd of same year.
DaCosta, whose address is in West End Avenue, Leyton, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8 at Wood Green Crown Court.
After the jury returned a unanimous guilty judgement, investigating detective Myles Bossman stated: “DaCosta is an extremely dangerous individual."
“In what can only be described as predatory, he subjected a woman scarcely known to him to serious sexual assault without any remorse for his actions."
“The victim was at her most vulnerable as she slept. The verdict shows that such violence against women will not be tolerated."
“With the support of her family and the community, this woman showed immense bravery and courage in supporting a police investigation. I would like to thank her for her strength, and the many witnesses who provided evidence. I hope the conviction goes some way to providing closure after what must have been a shocking experience."
“The Met encourages anyone who is victim or witness to sexual assault, to contact police. There is zero tolerance for such serious offences. This conviction serves as a reminder that those who commit such horrific offences will be found and justice duly be served.”