ALEX KING SENTENCED IN LONDON FOR RAPE AND FRAUD INVOLVING NOVICHOK CLAIMS

A man identified as Alex King, a socialite from London, has been handed a prison sentence of seven and a half years after admitting to the heinous crime of raping an unconscious woman.

The incident in question occurred back in August 2007, when King encountered a 25-year-old woman outside a nightclub situated in the heart of central London. Following this encounter, he took her to an address on Portland Place, a well-known area in London, where he committed a sexual assault against her while she was unconscious. Disturbingly, King also recorded footage of the assault, capturing her in a vulnerable state.

Despite his efforts to erase the incriminating videos, the footage was recovered by a third party, which played a crucial role in building the case against him. The investigation revealed that King attempted to delete the recordings, but they were ultimately retrieved, providing vital evidence for the authorities.

During the court proceedings, Detective Constable Dan Cooke, who is part of the Specialist Crime unit, stated, “After being presented with the overwhelming evidence in this case, King pleaded guilty to rape. What happened on that night 12 years ago has deeply affected the victim, who must be commended for finding the confidence to come forward; she has been fully supported throughout this investigation.”

At the time of sentencing, King, who does not have a fixed address, appeared before Southwark Crown Court on December 17. He not only received the prison term but was also sentenced to an additional four months for breaching his bail conditions.

It was noted that King was initially arrested in 2007 during the time of the assault, but no further action was taken at that point. It was only after further evidence surfaced that he was re-arrested and charged in January 2018. Police eventually located him near his residence in Westminster, leading to his subsequent conviction.

In a separate but related aspect of the investigation, authorities uncovered that King falsely claimed in September 2018 to have been affected by the Novichok nerve agent. He staged an incident at a Salisbury restaurant, claiming illness to avoid sentencing after being found guilty of drug offenses, including selling cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine.

The real Novichok attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia took place in March 2018 at a Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury. Six months later, King traveled to the same restaurant, falsely claiming to have fallen ill. He was subsequently sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison for these actions but was later apprehended by police.

Detective Constable Cooke emphasized that the investigation was comprehensive and that allegations of such serious nature are always taken seriously, regardless of how much time has passed since the crime. The court acknowledged the impact of King’s actions on the victim, and his guilty plea led to the sentencing.

This case highlights the unwavering commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue justice in sexual assault cases, regardless of the elapsed time since the offense was committed, reaffirming their dedication to protecting victims and upholding the rule of law.