Himanshu Makwana

Himanshu Makwana, a 42-year-old man from Wembley, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping two teenage girls he groomed online via Snapchat. The offences, which occurred four years apart, involved Makwana deceiving the victims by pretending to be a teenager, leading to horrific assaults in empty buildings.

The first incident took place in 2019, when Makwana used a Snapchat account to communicate with an 18-year-old victim. After months of messaging, they arranged to meet, and he drove her to an empty office block where he raped her. The victim reported the attack to the police at the time, but no suspect was identified initially, as detailed in the Metropolitan Police Service investigation report.

• Makwana posed as a young man to gain the victim's trust.
• The assault occurred inside an isolated commercial premises.
• The case remained unsolved until DNA evidence linked him years later.

The second offence happened in April 2023, targeting a girl who had just turned 16. Makwana again used Snapchat, this time pretending to be a 19-year-old named 'Samir'. He parked near her school, asked for help carrying books, then locked her in his car and drove her to another empty commercial premises, where he raped her. A witness captured an image of the vehicle used, which enabled officers to locate and arrest Makwana on 27 November 2023, the day after the victim reported the incident.

Detective Constable Lewis Jelley, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police Service, stated: 'Makwana posed as a young man on social media in order to prey on young girls. He carried out a horrific attack on one woman, and then did the same thing again a few years later. He was brought to justice following a painstaking investigation.' Analysis of a DNA sample from Makwana's arrest matched him to the 2019 offence, leading to charges on 22 December 2023 for both rapes. He was remanded in custody ahead of trial.

On 6 March 2025, at Harrow Crown Court, Makwana was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for nine years, with an additional four years on extended licence. He will also register as a sex offender for life. DC Jelley added: 'I want to thank the two brave young women who came forward and reported the offences to us. Without their courage, we would not be in the position we are today.' The case highlights the dangers of online grooming, as reported by the Metropolitan Police News on 7 March 2025.