A rapist who committed a “terrifying” attack on a woman in her home has been jailed for more than a decade.

Koshin Ali, 40, of no fixed address, raped his victim at knife-point at her home in Harlesden.

He was jailed for 13 years at Harrow Crown Court yesterday (February 23) after being found guilty of rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), witness intimidation and two counts of breaching a restraining order.

Ali had received a 20 week prison sentence for assaulting the same victim the year before the rape on March 12, 2022.

Detective Constable Ian Smith described Ali’s actions as “downright terrifying”.

The court heard that Ali developed an obsession with the victim.

In June 2021 he cut the victim’s throat with a key, for which he was subsequently prosecuted, and was given a restraining order which prohibited him from contacting the victim.

But just a few months after having been released from prison, Ali broke into the victim’s home after discovering that she was in a relationship with somebody else.

He smashed a back door window to enter the house, before assaulting her in her own bedroom.

Police said Ali punched and bit his victim, pushing his fingers into her eyes, before raping her at knife point and telling her he was going to kill her.

The woman was able to fight him off, and Ali fled the scene when she began screaming.

Police were called and blood found on a broken mirror inside the victim’s bedroom was discovered to be a DNA match with Ali.

Ali was subsequently arrested, charged and remanded in custody before trial.

While awaiting trial, Ali managed to get hold of a mobile phone which had been smuggled into prison.

He called his victim and told her not to go through with the trial because it would ruin his life.

Ali was promptly charged with witness intimidation and breaching the restraining order.

Detective Constable Smith said: “The repeated trauma Ali subjected his victim to is difficult to comprehend and I have nothing but admiration for the courage and strength she has shown in ensuring he is brought to justice for his crimes.

"Ali’s actions were downright terrifying and I am pleased that an individual capable of such violence and mistreatment of women is now back behind bars where he belongs."

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