ENIOLA BALOGUN FROM TOTTENHAM SENTENCED FOR RAPE OF FIVE TEENAGE GIRLS IN LONDON

In December 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving an American man, Eniola Balogun, who committed heinous acts against young girls in London. The offender, aged 20 at the time, exploited social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram to target vulnerable teenage girls aged between 13 and 16. He employed manipulative tactics to persuade them to send him explicit photographs, creating a false sense of trust and intimacy.

Once in possession of these compromising images, Balogun issued threats to the victims, warning that he would share the images publicly unless they agreed to meet him in person. His coercive tactics escalated to physical assault when the girls complied with his demands. During these encounters, Balogun forcibly raped five girls, taking their phones under the pretense of returning them after sexual contact, only to retain control over their devices and further intimidate them.

Two of the victims faced threats of violence if they resisted his advances, highlighting the level of intimidation and fear he instilled. Some victims were coerced into performing sexual acts via video recordings on multiple occasions, further demonstrating the extent of his manipulative and abusive behavior.

At the time of the offenses, Balogun was residing in Tottenham, an area in North London. His criminal activities came to light when he pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and possession of indecent images of a child at Wood Green Crown Court. It was also revealed that he had a prior conviction for raping a 16-year-old girl on three separate occasions, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Detective Sergeant Tony Killeen commented on the case, stating, “The teenage girls were victims of online sexual offences and did not recognize that they were being abused. He used his social media profile to gain their trust, share intimate photos and then used those images to coerce his victims into sexual activity.”

On 15 December, Balogun was sentenced to a lengthy term of 21 years in prison. The court also imposed an extended license period of eight years following his release, ensuring continued supervision. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life and subject to a sexual harm prevention order, measures designed to protect the public from further harm and prevent him from reoffending.