A man from East London has been imprisoned for the rape of a teenage girl at a railway station, following a six-year wait for justice.
Grooming and Assault
Marvin Ogbogbo, 23, of Millstone Close, Stratford, was just 17 years old when he carried out the heinous attack in 2019. The court heard how he had spent months grooming his 14-year-old victim on social media before inviting her to spend a day with him.
Having gained her trust, Ogbogbo led the girl to the sheltered seating area at Chafford Hundred station, located mere metres from the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex. It was there that he assaulted her after repeatedly pressuring her to sit on his lap.
Escape and Eventual Arrest
Following the attack, Ogbogbo immediately fled the scene, boarding a London-bound train and leaving his young victim alone at the station.
The brave teenager came forward to report the crime to the British Transport Police (BTP) in October 2024. This led to Ogbogbo's arrest on 23 December 2024 at Barking police station, where he was required to attend regularly as part of bail conditions for an unrelated matter.
During police interviews, the offender attempted to deny the rape, claiming he had only kissed the victim.
Conviction and Sentencing
Ogbogbo was found guilty of one count of rape last month after a week-long trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
He has now been sentenced to four years in prison. In addition to his custodial sentence, he is subject to a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim and must sign the sex offenders register for life.
BTP Detective Constable Jennifer Brown commented on the case, stating: "Putting Ogbogbo behind bars for this abhorrent rape is testament to the victim who showed immense bravery in reporting what happened to her. Ogbogbo is a vile predator who targeted an underage girl and groomed her for his own sexual gratification."
She added a crucial message for other potential victims: "We take every report of sexual violence extremely seriously and will always launch a full investigation no matter how much time has passed."
