Deliveroo rider jailed 21 years for Chelsea rape

Salem Rekoub, 28, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman he discovered unconscious in Chelsea. The attack occurred after the woman became unwell on her journey home following a night out with friends.

Prosecutors told Isleworth Crown Court that Rekoub dragged the woman from public view into a side road and committed the offences while she was drifting in and out of consciousness. She sustained 33 bruises across her body. Rekoub attempted to conceal his actions by providing false information to emergency services, claiming the woman had consumed too much alcohol. He later gave police a false name while posing as a concerned passer-by.

Hospital pursuit

CCTV footage showed Rekoub following the victim's ambulance to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. He was observed walking through hospital corridors and looking into treatment areas. Hospital staff eventually challenged him after he spent time searching for the woman. The victim disclosed the rape to paramedics, leading to Rekoub's arrest nine days later.

The judge at Isleworth Crown Court described Rekoub as a danger to the public. He was convicted of three counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration following a trial. Rekoub had been working illegally as a food delivery rider at the time of the offence, with prosecutors noting "incomplete checks" had been made regarding his employment.

In a statement read to the court, the victim described the lasting impact of the assault. She said: "This has destroyed my life and I am not the same person." She told the court she has been left "in a constant state of fear" and has suffered severe mental health difficulties, including seizures, and spent time in a mental health treatment centre. She remains deeply traumatised more than two years after the attack.

A Deliveroo spokesperson stated: "We are appalled by these truly horrific crimes and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. This individual was not a verified rider on our platform, but a criminal who abused our systems to gain access illegally. We have since significantly strengthened the measures to control who can access our platform, and continue to invest to combat any abuse."

Rekoub's defence indicated he had come to Britain from Algeria after experiencing violence there and had previously been a talented footballer before a serious knee injury. In a statement read to the court, Rekoub said: "I am deeply sorry for everything."