Pawel Pazola

A predatory man from Crawley, West Sussex, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for posing as a police officer to rape two women. Pawel Pazola, aged 51, exploited the vulnerabilities of his victims by arranging sexual services through an escort website, only to coerce them into acts far beyond their agreement using threats and imitation weapons.

The first incident occurred in August 2020 at a flat in Camden, north London. Pazola met the victim, a Brazilian woman in her 20s, under the pretence of a paid encounter. However, he produced a fake police badge and an imitation handgun, threatening her with arrest and deportation if she did not comply. He forced her into sexual acts she had not consented to and stole back the money he had paid her. The Metropolitan Police detailed in their statement that Pazola's actions were calculated to instil fear, leveraging the woman's perceived immigration status to control her.

• Pazola arranged the meeting via an online escort site.
• He claimed to be a police officer upon arrival.
• Using the replica gun, he demanded additional sexual acts.
• He robbed the victim of the payment and left her traumatised.

Following the attack, the brave victim shared her ordeal in a WhatsApp group for Brazilian sex workers. Another member recognised similarities in her own experience, which had happened just two weeks later in Westminster, central London. In the second assault, Pazola employed the same modus operandi: posing as an officer with his fake credentials and weapon, forcing the second victim—a fellow Brazilian woman in her 20s—into non-consensual sexual acts. He not only raped her but also stole additional money from her, compounding the robbery charge.

Detective Sergeant Sam Lockstone, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, described Pazola as 'a highly dangerous predator who sought to take advantage of the victims’ perceived vulnerabilities for his own gratification and monetary gain.' The police were alerted through the victims' reports and used phone records to trace Pazola. He was arrested on 30 August 2020, and searches of his home and car uncovered the imitation firearm and fake police ID.

At Wood Green Crown Court, a jury convicted Pazola on 5 November 2021 of two counts of rape, one count of robbery, one count of impersonating a police officer, and one count of possession of an imitation firearm. Judge [Name not specified in article] sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment, acknowledging the 'bravery and courage' shown by the victims in coming forward. DS Lockstone praised the women's resilience, noting that the Met Police's supportive approach to sex workers encouraged the second victim to report the crime. This case underscores the Metropolitan Police's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, particularly those in vulnerable positions within the sex industry.

Sources: The Mirror (6 November 2021), Metropolitan Police statements.