Teenager accused of raping 11-year-old attacked schoolgirl a year earlier

A teenager accused of raping an 11-year-old girl in a park had attacked another schoolgirl a year before, a court heard.

Opemipo Jaji, 18, is alleged to have followed the 11-year-old girl as she made her way home from school on a bus.

He followed her and dragged her into Jubilee Park, Enfield, north London, and subjected her to a three-hour rape ordeal in November, last year, the court heard.

Her glove had been stuffed in her mouth and she had been stripped and assaulted.

The girl ran home dishevelled and bleeding and underwent an operation for her injuries.

Jaji, of Edmonton, north London, denies rape and says he was not the attacker, although he was on the same bus.

He claims her DNA on his bag, trainer shoe and the waistband of his boxer shorts was from when he went into the park later that evening, the Old Bailey heard.

But Rosina Cottage, QC, prosecuting, said it was "not a coincidence" that in 2011, Jaji pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and robbing another girl dressed in her school uniform.

Miss Cottage said a tie had been placed in her mouth, her clothes had been removed and she was robbed of her telephone and sexually assaulted.

She added: "He had an interest in pre-pubescent girls and sexual acts with pre-pubescent girls."

The trial continues

PA