Trio jailed for total of more than 34 years after gang rape of 13-year-old

Three men have been sentenced for the rape of a 13-year-old girl they picked up at Hammersmith Tube station.

On Friday, Paul Maxwell, 24, of Wood Lane Estates, Shepherd’s Bush, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison.

Kayon Bhola, 29, of no fixed address, and Jeremiah Jackson 24, of Longford Court, Shepherd’s Bush, were both jailed for 11 years.

All three men were given Sexual Harm Prevention Orders lasting 15 years.

The victim read out a victim impact statement, a part of which said: “I have gone over the date a million times thinking of what I could have done differently to change the outcome of what happened to me. No matter what I change, it would’ve ended the same way.

“This is because these three men, fully grown men, knew exactly what they were going to do as soon as they saw me at Hammersmith.

“I was caught alone, and vulnerable. But that shouldn’t have mattered.”

The teenager left her home on September 30 last year and travelled into London where she encountered the three defendants at the Tube station.

They lured her back to Maxwell’s flat, where she was raped by all three.

Police gathered a combination of forensic evidence, CCTV and phone analysis. Working closely with specialists from CPS London’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit, they built up a case against the three defendants.

CCTV showed the group travelling from the station towards the flat. Phone analysis also revealed a short video clip of the three men carrying out their attack. This evidence played a significant part in convicting the three men.

Detective Constable Will Murphy, who led the investigation, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the victim for her ongoing support in this case and for her extreme bravery in coming forward and reporting this to police.

“I hope the victim feels that justice has been served.

“Today’s sentencing highlights how despicable this crime was and Maxwell, Bhola and Jackson will now face the consequences of their horrendous actions.”

On July 22, all three defendants were found guilty of rape – with Maxwell convicted of an additional count – following a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Pictured top: Still taken from the video released of Maxwell’s arrest (Picture: The Met)