The victim of a Greenwich rapist who was kidnapped, assaulted, then told to wash for ten minutes in a puddle says she now finds it “hard to trust anyone.”

Desmond Atumkeze, 23, of Battery Road, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years and two months in jail at Woolwich Crown Court, after pleading guilty to two counts of rape and one of kidnap.

In a released court statement, the 30-year-old victim described the effect of his actions, and her fears for the future.

She said: “I became terrified of going out alone. Still to this day I avoid being alone at night outside. I couldn’t sleep.

"I would hear the slightest noise and be awake. I have become afraid of the night. I have very intense dreams now and I wake up in a cold sweat.

“I’ve lost my independence and self-reliance.

"I’m not like I was before and am now more reliant on others. I’ve started suffering panic attacks and anxiety.

"I’ve lost weight and my appetite. I find that suddenly I will have a flashback to what happened, this causes me further anxiety.

“I’m finding it hard to trust people, especially men, even though rationally I know not all men are going to hurt me.

“I have reached out to a few friends for support as I knew this was too big for me to carry alone. It was hard talking about what happened, it made me feel uncomfortable and it took a lot of courage but I needed the support as well.

“I have male friends that I would go out with for a meal or the cinema.
“Now I find it really hard to trust anyone, I don’t want physical contact.

"I don’t know when I’ll feel able to just go out as I did before.

“I find it very difficult to be close to a guy, or think about being intimate.

“It was always my goal to get married and have a family.

"Now I worry because I cannot get close to anyone and what if this doesn’t change?”

Atumkeze approached the victim as she walked through a basketball court in Gallion’s Park late on November 8, 2019, pressing something into the small of her back as he said: “I’ve got a gun. I’m going to kill you.”

Wearing a ski-mask, he forced her to remove all clothing before raping her, making comments such as "I'm local" and "I know your face, I know where you live” throughout the ordeal.

He repeatedly asked if she had a boyfriend and who she lived with, as the victim tried to remain calm and comply out of fear for her life.

Following the assault, Atumkeze made her walk to the canal bank, while still naked, instructing her to wash for 10 minutes in a freezing cold puddle, before stealing her headphones and mobile. 

As soon as he left, the victim called police and was supported by specialist officers who took her to a Haven.

Results from forensic testing identified Atumkeze as a suspect, who was arrested on November 11.

He fabricated a story telling officers he had been out for a meal in Woolwich with friends who ordered him a taxi home because of his vision problems – he told officers that he was registered blind in both eyes in 2016.

In his interview, he said: “I was shocked when I was arrested by the police. I was thinking this was wrong as I could not have done that.

“Due to my physical problems I could not commit crimes. I cannot do that crime as I am blind. I am a virgin so I could not have done this.”

Atumkeze told officers he was familiar with the concrete area where the offence occurred and he knew it did not have lighting – adding that is why he does not go there.

Atumkeze was unable to give an explanation to why his DNA was found on the victim, who he claimed to have never seen before.

Detectives examined Atumkeze’s mobile phone and found internet searches such as ‘rape kit’, ‘DNA profiling’ and ‘the importance of DNA in sexual assault.

He also looked up sexual offences on the Crown Prosecution Service’s website.

Atumkeze was charged on Tuesday, 12 November and was convicted as above.