Dewal Dos Santos Silva

An unlicensed tattoo artist from north-west London has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping a woman while she was unconscious. Dewal Dos Santos Silva, 37, of High Road, Wembley, exploited the trust of a woman in her mid-30s whom he had previously met for a piercing procedure that proceeded without incident.

On the evening of 30 October 2020, the victim contacted Dos Santos Silva to arrange a tattoo session at his flat. During the visit, she became groggy and lost consciousness. She awoke in the early hours of the following morning to discover Dos Santos Silva raping her. The attack left the woman distraught, and as she made her way home, Dos Santos Silva sent her a text message apologising for 'screwing up' and inquiring if she was angry with him.

Police arrested Dos Santos Silva on 3 November 2020. He claimed he could not remember the events, but officers seized forensic evidence that later proved his guilt. The Metropolitan Police investigated the case, highlighting how Dos Santos Silva had made the victim feel uncomfortable with suggestive comments before the assault. At Harrow Crown Court on Thursday, Dos Santos Silva was found guilty of rape but not guilty of administering a substance with intent. He received a 13-year custodial sentence, with an additional five years on licence, and a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Ian Smith from the North West Command Unit commended the victim's bravery, stating: 'This time around he exploited and abused her trust in the most horrific way, making her feel uncomfortable with suggestive comments before going on to rape her. Her bravery and courage is remarkable and I hope Dos Santos Silva’s jailing goes some way to helping her move on to the next chapter in her life.' The police noted a possibility of additional victims yet to come forward and encouraged anyone affected to contact them for support and investigation.

This case, reported by The Independent, underscores the dangers of unregulated services and the importance of trust in professional interactions. The Metropolitan Police's thorough forensic work was instrumental in securing the conviction.