Appeal for further victims of jailed child rapist

Videos of Vruj Patel assaulting a child were found on a phone as it was repaired

A "cowardly and opportunistic" sex offender from east London has been jailed for more than 22 years for raping and assaulting a child under 13, following which police launched an appeal for any further victims to come forward.

Vruj Patel, 26, was investigated by the Met Police after videos of child sex abuse were found on a mobile phone that had been sent for repairs.

Patel, of Selsdon Road, Plaistow, pleaded guilty in August to 17 charges and was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday.

His brother Kishnan Patel, of the same address, pleaded guilty in June to four counts of making and possessing indecent images of children and was jailed for 15 months by the same court.

Vruj Patel's convictions include rape of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and four counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, along with possession of indecent images of children, and voyeurism.

He was also jailed for the rape of a woman over 16 and sexual assault by penetration relating to a second victim.

Vruj Patel was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, while Kishnan Patel will serve a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

'Cowardly and opportunistic'

Each incident of contact offending is thought to have happened in 2018, however the voyeurism precedes this and officers are concerned that Vruj Patel's offending had continued until more recently.

The Met said he may have assaulted other children, possibly at his home, and have appealed for any information about other potential crimes or victims.

Det Sgt Rob Blant said: "Patel is a cowardly, opportunistic offender who has preyed on vulnerable victims for his own sexual gratification."

He added: "There are teams of dedicated, professional officers working across London who will leave no stone unturned to identify those who seek to commit offences against vulnerable people and bring offenders to justice."

Vruj Patel was arrested on 1 February after videos of a child being assaulted was found on a phone belonging to Kishan Patel.

Although Kishnan Patel's devices were seized, it later became clear that Vruj Patel appeared in the videos as detectives were able to identify him after his face was briefly visible at the end of one of the videos showing abuse of the child, the Met said.

Further images and videos were then uncovered by detectives which showed Vruj Patel raping a young woman following a university night out, and voyeurism against a young girl, the force said.

Vruj Patel had filmed himself committing multiple offences against the victims and was identifiable from clothing comparisons and his jewellery.

The victim-survivors involved in this case have been given specialist support and by officers throughout the investigation and court process, the Met added.