A Nigerian man, Akin Akinniran, has pleaded guilty to sexual assault after seeing photos of the attack circulating on social media.

The 34-year-old was arrested, charged with sexual assault and remanded in police custody before appearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty.

The Court heard that Akinniran’s female victim had got out of a private hire vehicle and was walking along Lower Clapton Road at 2.20am on Sunday when she was approached from behind by the suspect who tried to speak to her.

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She told Akinniran to leave her alone and tried to walk off, but he grabbed her and started kissing her neck.

He then pulled her into an alleyway and continued to sexually assault her.

The woman was able to break free and asked a man who was walking down the road to call the police.

In the middle of the call, Akinniran approached them and told him to hang up.

When he came closer the woman screamed and he fled.

Police officers collected CCTV footage from a fast food restaurant to use as evidence, but Akinniran handed himself in the next day after seeing pictures of himself circulating on social media which had been taken by a witness.

He initially claimed he was innocent and gave a different version of events.

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However, when cops searched the property where he was staying they found identical items of clothing worn by the suspect in the photographs.

Prosecutors described Akinniran as a “dangerous” predator.

Det Const Alex Heaton, from the central east CID, said:

“Firstly, I would like to reassure the public that attacks of this nature are very rare and that we take reports of this nature very seriously.

“Within two days of the attack we have arrested, charged and secured a guilty verdict for a dangerous criminal who will not be able to harm anyone for quite a while.

“There may very well be other victims of Akinniran’s, who we would urge to contact police as soon as possible.”

He will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on November 20.

hackneygazette.co.uk