A man has been convicted of raping a teenage girl and strangling her until she passed out in Waltham Cross.
Djos Lombo, aged 21, of Lordship Lane, Tottenham, was found guilty of attempted murder, rape, sexual assault and making a threat to kill after a three-week trial at St Albans Crown Court, which ended on Thursday, June 8.
The jury heard how Lombo led the victim, who was aged 16 at the time of the attack on the evening of November 18 last year, to a secluded area of wasteland adjacent to Park Lane and Newsprinters Ltd. She thought they were on their way to meet his friend.
Instead, Lombo pushed her to the ground before forcing her to perform a sex act on him and threatened to kill her if she did not comply. He then strangled her until she lost consciousness before fleeing the scene, taking her coat and mobile phone.
When the victim regained consciousness she ran home where she told her mother what had happened, who then phoned the police. She has been supported throughout the case by specially-trained officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT).
Following an investigation, Lombo was arrested in Basildon, Essex, and subsequently charged before being remanded into custody ahead of the trial.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Narinder Padda, from SOIT, said: “I want to praise the courage of the victim in this very difficult and disturbing case. Lombo callously left her for dead after he subjected her to the most harrowing ordeal.
“He is a cold, calculated individual who has shown that he is a danger to women. He has shown no remorse for his actions, and I am pleased the jury have found him guilty of these crimes.”
Lombo has been remanded and is due to be sentenced in August.
Anyone who has experienced rape can contact Hertfordshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0808 178 4448 for advice, support and other services.