A man from Wembley has been found guilty of raping two teenage girls after posing as a teenage boy on Snapchat.
Himanshu Makwana, 42, carried out his first “horrific” attack in 2019, but it until he struck for a second time four years later that police were able to identify him.
He contacted his first victim, who was 18 at the time, on Snapchat in 2019.
They spoke over the app - which allows people to send each other disappearing photos and videos, as well as written messages - for a few months before arranging to meet.
Makwana then drove his victim to an empty office block, said the Met police. Once inside the building, he raped her.
The rape was reported to the police at the time, but no suspect was found.
Four years later, Makwana struck again using the same method.
Posing as a 19-year-old boy called Samir he contacted his second victim, who had only just turned 16, on Snapchat.
“Shortly afterwards, he parked on a street close to the victim’s school and waited for her, before asking for her help,” said a Met police spokesperson.
“The victim agreed and helped Makwana carry some books.
“He then locked her in his car and identified himself as ‘Samir’.”
He gave his victim alcohol before driving her to an empty commercial block, where he raped her.
Makwana was arrested on November 27, the day after the second victim reported the incident, thanks to an image taken by a witness which showed Makwana’s car and helped police track him down.
DNA analysis confirmed he was the previously unknown suspect who had raped the first victim in 2019.
He was then charged with both rapes on December 22, and was remanded in custody.
On Tuesday (November 12) Makwana, of Thurlby Road in Wembley, was found guilty of two counts of rape at Harrow Crown Court.
He is due to be sentenced at the same court on January 17.
Detective Constable Lewis Jelley, who led the investigation, said: “Makwana posed as a young man on social media in order to prey on young girls.
“He carried out a horrific act on one woman and then did it again a few years later. I am delighted that the jury have found him guilty after a painstaking investigation.
“I want to thank the two brave young women who came forward and reported the offences to us and how patient they were with the investigation. Without their courage we would not be in the position we are today.
“This verdict shows how the Met is dedicated to tacking violence against women and girls. It does not matter how long ago an offence took place, we will work to secure a conviction.”
