A Beckenham man has been sentenced after luring and raping a woman following a robbery in Woolwich. Hussein Roble, 26, targeted a lone, intoxicated woman leaving the Earl of Chatham pub on November 18 last year.

Roble sexually assaulted, robbed, strangled, and raped the woman within just over an hour. Prosecutor Michael Hillman explained that Roble first led her to an underground car park, where he partially undressed and assaulted her.

When the victim attempted to leave, Roble followed, grabbed her by the throat, and stole her phone. As she chased him, pleading for her phone, Roble scaled a fence and led her to the communal stairwell of a block of flats. There, he threatened her, saying she wouldn’t get her phone back or be allowed to leave unless she complied with his demands.

After the assault, Roble returned her phone, and the victim immediately fled and contacted the police. Handprints left in the stairwell linked Roble to the crime, leading to his arrest in April.

Roble, who has a history of violence, including convictions for drug dealing and domestic abuse, initially denied the charges. However, he later pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault, and robbery.

At Woolwich Crown Court, his defence lawyer, George Wills, argued that Roble felt remorseful and recognized his need for change, though Roble denied any gang affiliation despite a probation report suggesting otherwise.

Judge David Miller, during sentencing, described Roble’s actions as a “sustained incident” in which he targeted a vulnerable woman.