TAOFIQ LAGUDA SENTENCED TO LIFE IN DAGENHAM AFTER BRUTAL RAPE IN BLACKHEATH

In a case that has shocked the community of Dagenham and the surrounding areas, Taofiq Laguda, aged 46, has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of raping a teenage girl in his wife’s car. The incident, which took place in the early hours of January 24, 2020, has brought to light Laguda’s disturbing history of sexual offenses, raising serious concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of previous interventions.

Laguda, who resides on Trefgarne Road in Dagenham, was sentenced during a virtual hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on February 25. The court heard that he must serve a minimum of seven years behind bars before being eligible for parole. However, if he is ever released, he will remain on license for the rest of his life, with conditions to be determined at that time. The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the danger he poses to society.

Judge Annabel Darlow QC, presiding over the case, described Laguda as a “highly predatory man with an established pattern of serious sexual offences.” She emphasized the brutality of the attack, recounting how the victim, a young woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, was lured into his vehicle under the false pretense of needing help. The judge detailed how Laguda parked in a secluded residential car park near bushes in Blackheath, where he threatened her with violence, saying, “get in the back or I will kill you.”

According to the court, Laguda forcibly removed the victim’s leggings, and despite her attempts to resist by grabbing his penis, he ignored her protests. He then took out his own penis, pinned her down with his hands, and proceeded to rape her. The attack lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which the victim was held against her will. In addition to the sexual assault, Laguda stole her handbag, which contained her phone and money, and drove away with her belongings. He received a concurrent two-year sentence for theft.

The court heard that Laguda’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior. The judge noted that he appeared willing to behave sexually as he pleased, and expressed concern about the difficulty in monitoring him if he were ever released. She also pointed out that Laguda likely stole the victim’s phone to prevent her from reporting the crime to the police, and her handbag was never recovered.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Darlow described the offense as one of such gravity that a life sentence was justified. A victim impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound psychological and emotional toll the assault had taken on the young woman. She described suffering from trust issues, which led to her losing her job and experiencing breakdowns in her relationships with friends and family.

Laguda’s criminal history was also taken into account during sentencing. His previous convictions include a violent rape of a prostitute in March 2006, when he was kerb-crawling in his own car and threatened her at a garage after a disagreement over payment. He pleaded guilty to that offense but was convicted by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in January 2007. Additionally, he had a prior assault in April 2000 in Deptford, where he grabbed a woman underneath her breasts in a “bear hug” before she managed to escape.

Prosecutor Tom Nicholson from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the seriousness of Laguda’s latest crimes, emphasizing the danger he poses to the public. The court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from repeat offenders like Laguda, whose history of sexual violence spans over a decade. The community of Dagenham and Blackheath can now find some reassurance in the knowledge that justice has been served, but the case also serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in preventing such heinous acts.