Man who offered teenage girls modelling jobs before selling them as escorts is jailed

A man who sexually exploited teenage girls for 20 years has been jailed.

Benjamin Agyemang, 45, of Marlborough Grove, Southwark, was sentenced to 13 and a half years’ at Inner London Crown Court yesterday.

Agyemang targeted girls who were all between 14 and 16-years-old at the time of the offences. 

In 2021, a woman reported offences of sexual assault and exploitation which took place in 2008 when she was 14-years-old. 

She was approached on the street by Agyemang, under the name Marshay Ramone, who told her he could get her into modelling for music videos. 

She began staying at his flat – in Elephant and Castle – for weeks at a time, manipulated and unable to leave. She was sexually abused by Agyemang and multiple paying “clients” a day. 

During this time she saw him sexually exploiting other girls and young women. She managed to escape in 2012.

Agyemang was arrested following the report and it became clear to officers he may have committed further offences.

A school friend of the first victim was identified. She told the police she had gone to Agyemang’s flat on two occasions when she was 15, where she was sexually abused by a “client”. 

As the investigation continued, another victim was identified.  She told officers she had attended Agyemang’s flat on the promise he could make her a model, at the age of 16. 

He took her to a bar and introduced her to an older wealthy man who he said was important in the modelling business. 

This was a lie, Agyemang had “sold” her as an escort without her knowledge. She was taken to the man’s house and sexually assaulted. 

In June 2022, Agyemang was arrested again and charged with offences against all three victims.

Officers spent two years investigating the case which covered a period of 20 years.

Agyemang was found guilty on September 27, of one count of attempting to procure a girl under the age of 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence and four counts of sexual activity with a child. 

Detective Constable Kate Orr, said: “I would like to commend the courage and strength of these women and I hope today’s outcome provides them with some degree of closure. 

“Sexual predators like Agyemang who groom girls are often able to escape justice for years due to the fear and shame they instil in their victims. 

“It’s not uncommon for it to take many years before victim-survivors feel able to report offences to police. The fact offences may have taken place a long time ago does not make investigating them any less of a priority. 

“I hope this investigation will encourage victims of sexual offending to come forward to police. 

“We have specially trained officers who will listen carefully to allegations and investigate them thoroughly, with a view to getting justice for victim-survivors and protecting future victims.” 

A spokeswoman from the Met said: “If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape or you have information about an offender, contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency – there are specially trained officers who will listen and investigate where needed.”

Pictured top: Benjamin Agyemang, who has been jailed for multiple sexual offences (Picture: The Met)