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A homeless man raped a woman as she walked to work through a city centre.

Farirai Shereni, 25, attacked his victim minutes after spotting her outside McDonald's on Birmingham's Dale End.

Harrowing CCTV footage played out in court showed Shereni walking towards his victim, and forcing her towards an underpass.

He could be seen 'grabbing, pushing and manhandling' the woman, as she tried desperately to escape.

Shereni denied attacking the victim, but jurors at Birmingham Crown Court today found him guilty of two counts of rape, and one of sexually assaulting a female.

He was arrested on November 6 last year - hours after the alleged incident took place and was charged days later, reports the Birmingham Mail.

Jurors were told that no one stopped to help the woman, despite a number of pedestrians and a cyclist also being caught on camera at the time of the 4.30am attack.

(Image: BirminghamLive WS)

Jurors dismissed Shereni's claims that 'sex had been consensual'.

He told the court: "I had been wandering about. I'd not had any sleep. I was charging my phone and listening to music.

"I saw the woman crossing over near McDonald's. I approached her and spoke to her - we just started to communicate but I can't remember what we said.

"I'd not had anything to drink and I hadn't taken any drugs.

"I asked her if she wanted to have sex and she said yes. It was consensual."

The court heard the victim had 'repeatedly told Shereni to get off her', but had not screamed out over fears he may have had a knife.

The victim reported the incident to police and Shereni was arrested after being tracked on CCTV.

Prosecutor Matthew Brook told the jury: "The victim had been dropped off by her boyfriend and was on her way to work.

"The defendant - Mr Shereni - was homeless and asked the victim, a complete stranger, to help him with his phone.

(Image: BirminghamLive WS)

"She said she couldn't help and just wanted to get to work. She didn't want sex with the defendant, she told him that.

"But the defendant's account is that within minutes of seeing her, the victim agreed to be his girlfriend, kissed him and agreed to have sex with him.

"His account is nonsense.

"The victim said there were people around on the street and no one helped her. You can see people on the CCTV. You might think this is a sad indictment of our society.

"As we walk through our city centre we are maybe guilty of keeping our heads down, trying to avoid trouble. And that's at any time of day.

"What you are dealing with now is how 'normal' people react in these situations - when people are walking to work and they are attacked.

"Some people freeze or become compliant when faced with an attack.

"She told the defendant to 'get off' her loads of times. She panicked. She didn't know if he had anything on him.

"How was she to know if this stranger had a knife on him or not?"

Mr Brook went on to tell jurors 'the CCTV footage speaks for itself'.

(Image: BirminghamLive WS)

"It shows the defendant grabbing the victim and pushing her around, it shows him manhandling her," he said.

"What it does not show is the body language of a woman who has fallen in love with the defendant. It does not show a woman who wants or who is consenting to sex.

"He is a man who lies and lies. He knew he had raped the victim. He knew he had not expressly asked the victim for sex."

Bob Sastry, defending, repeated Shereni's claims that the sex had been 'consensual'.

"Mr Shereni claims this was two people meeting by chance. They began kissing and that evolved. He says this was consensual," Mr Sastry said.

"He has answered each and every question and didn't have to give evidence - instead he chose to come into the witness box."

Shereni will be sentenced on October 17.