IBRAHEEM GIWA FROM EAST HAM SENTENCED FOR GANG RAPE OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the East Ham community, Ibraheem Giwa, a 15-year-old known locally as 'Ibby,' was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl. The heinous crimes took place over several months and involved multiple locations within the borough of Newham, including Giwa's own bedroom, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.

Giwa, who was only 13 at the time of the first attack, was identified as the leader of a teenage gang associated with the Say No More (SNM) group, which has ties to the area around Custom House. The prosecution described the assaults as motivated by a combination of bullying and a display of gang bravado, with Giwa and his accomplices taking turns to assault the vulnerable girl on no fewer than a dozen occasions.

The series of attacks included a particularly disturbing incident in a park, where Giwa, then just 13, carried out his first rape alongside another boy. The court heard that subsequent assaults occurred at various locations, including Giwa's home, where up to eight youths were involved in a disturbing attack. The final assault took place in March 2010, when the girl was cornered in a McDonald's restroom in East Ham by three boys, one of whom was a 16-year-old who raped her in the restaurant's toilet.

During the sentencing, Judge Patricia Lees addressed the court and emphasized the vulnerability of the young victim. She stated, “She was but 11-years-old when you both had sexual intercourse with her – she herself was not yet mature enough to realize the full effects upon her and certainly wasn’t mature enough to realize whether she wanted to have sex with you.” The judge further explained that the girl was targeted because she was perceived as lonely and submissive, making her an easy victim for the offenders.

Judge Lees expressed concern over the ongoing risks posed by Giwa, noting his continued association with gang culture. She remarked, “It is clear to me that you are still associating with others in gang culture, and so you remain a risk of committing other offences.” The girl, now 13, watched from the courtroom as Giwa and the other offender received their sentences, a moment marked by the gravity of their crimes.

Giwa, of Wolsey Avenue in East Ham, was convicted of two counts of rape. Despite claiming he was playing football at the time of the incidents, jurors rejected his story. The 16-year-old accomplice admitted to raping the girl during the trial, receiving a 12-month sentence. A third 15-year-old involved in the case was acquitted of rape charges.

Gareth Hughes, representing Giwa, told the court that his client had been working to distance himself from gang influences while on bail, stating, “He has been meeting with a former gang member for the last two to three months. In fact, that has been done through the local police and he has been totally committed.” However, the court’s verdict underscores the severity of the crimes committed and the need for justice for the young victim, whose life was profoundly affected by these traumatic events.