A teenager who raped a woman with Down's Syndrome has been jailed for eight years.

Liam Felton, 18, approached his 22-year-old victim while she sat on a bench in Station Road, Harold Wood on the evening of September 12 last year.

For about 15 minutes, he attempted to engage her in a conversation before the pair got up and walked together for a further five minutes.

He then grabbed the woman by the throat and forced her into an alleyway before raping her twice. He fled from the scene.

Police arrested him the next day after CCTV images of him sitting on the bench were circulated.

Felton, of Station Road, Harold Wood, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape at Snaresbrook Crown Court and was sentenced yesterday.

Detective Constable Tim Glover, who led the investigation, said: "This was a shocking and harrowing attack on a defenceless girl.



"The victim has Down's Syndrome which impairs her both physically and in her speech - it would have been clear to Felton from his conversation with her that she had this condition.



"However, he chose to abuse her in the most callous way - I can only hope that his jail sentence gives some form of closure to the victim and her family."