Tooting attempted rapist caught after leaving distinctive baseball cap at scene of crime in Wandle Park

A man who attempted to rape a woman and invented a twin to blame – whose name he could not remember – has been convicted after leaving a distinctive baseball cap at the scene.

Khaled Argoub, 20, of Garratt Terrace, Tooting, stalked his victim before dragging her to a park where he choked and attacked her.

She thought she was going to choke to death in the attack but he still put his hand over her mouth in a bid to stop her shouting for help.

The distinctive cap left at the scene, his DNA found under the victim’s fingernail and CCTV tracking helped to identify Argoub.

At Kingston Crown Court today Argoub was found guilty of two counts of attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and attempting to choke with intent.

The victim was walking along a quiet residential street in Colliers Wood at around 3.30am on August 11 last year when she stopped to take a picture of a fox in the road.

Argoub was in the middle of the road behind her and smiled at her. He suddenly ran towards the victim, grabbed hold of her and dragged her to the nearby Wandle Park.

The woman eventually managed to escape by distracting him and running to some nearby flats. She was let in and the police were called. The police arrived and took her to hospital due to her serious injuries.

Argoub was not found that morning, but his cap was found at the scene, along with the woman’s clothes and phone.

Argoub was arrested at his home and, when asked later why he followed people, he said “because I’m an animal”.

A selfie taken before the attack was found on his phone, showing Argoub wearing the same cap.

Nijole O’Brien, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a violent attack on a lone female after a night out.

“Argoub was wearing a distinctive cap from the moment he spotted the victim on the Tube. That cap was later found at the scene, and was the same cap being worn in a selfie Argoub had taken moments before the attack. That allowed police to trace him.

“After the assault he was seen getting back on the Tube without his cap on and covering his face with his hand.

“During interview Argoub made various efforts to frustrate matters. On arrest he pretended not to speak English. He also initially said he couldn’t remember his name and claimed he had a twin but could not remember his twin’s name.

“During the attack, the victim was convinced she was about to die. She shouted that she couldn’t breathe but the defendant continued to choke her. Argoub even covered her mouth to stop her shouting for help.

“This victim has been left traumatised. That night Argoub carried out a monstrous assault which remains in the victim’s memory. This conviction will ensure that Argoub will be held accountable for his actions.”

Argoub will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on March 31.

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