Francis Mukendi

Francis Mukendi, a 27-year-old resident of Finsbury Park Road, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court of a series of violent sex attacks on women in the Camden area. The convictions, handed down on 22 March 2022 following a six-week trial, included four counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault, and four counts of possession of a bladed article. The offences occurred between 21 September 2017 and 16 December 2019, spanning just over two years.

The court heard that Mukendi's attacks followed a consistent and predatory pattern. He targeted women walking home alone late at night, following them until they reached their doorsteps or communal stairwells. As the victims fumbled with their keys, Mukendi would approach from behind, armed with a weapon—on one occasion a hammer and on others a knife—to overpower them. After committing the assaults or when interrupted, he would flee the scene. These incidents left the six victims deeply traumatised, as detailed in evidence presented during the trial.

The investigation began after the first attack in September 2017, led by detectives from the Central North Basic Command Unit (BCU) of the Metropolitan Police Service. Progress was slow until December 2020, when a CCTV image of the suspect was publicly released. Recognising himself in the footage, Mukendi surrendered to police the following day. A subsequent search of his home uncovered key evidence: clothing matching that seen in the CCTV, a laptop containing video footage of the initial attack (which Mukendi had attempted but failed to delete), and weapons including a zombie knife and a lock knife believed to have been used in the assaults. Forensic examination of the laptop provided crucial corroboration of his involvement.

Detective Constable Stacey Smith of Central North BCU described Mukendi as 'an extremely dangerous offender who targeted these women as they walked home alone in the dark.' She noted that he 'waited for the most opportune of moments before making his attacks,' highlighting the calculated nature of his crimes. The Metropolitan Police Service's investigation underscored the role of public appeals and forensic technology in securing the convictions. Mukendi is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, with the full extent of his punishment yet to be determined.