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Rapist took thumbs-up selfie with unconscious victim in park

Thomas Mangar has been convicted of rape and sexual assault following a trial. (Met/PA)
Thomas Mangar has been convicted of rape and sexual assault following a trial. (Met/PA)

A rapist who photographed an unconscious woman after attacking her in a west London park has been convicted.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had met up with friends on the evening of 11 May last year before intending to return home.

She cannot recall how she ended up in Hitherbroom Park, Hayes, but she came to at about 2.45pm the next day on grassland there to find Thomas Mangar raping her.

It later emerged that Mangar had taken selfies with the unconscious woman, with the rapist giving a thumbs-up to the camera.

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Mangar will be sentenced in April. (Met)
Mangar will be sentenced in April. (Met)

The Metropolitan Police's Detective Constable Alan Wong said: "Mangar carried out an audacious attack on a vulnerable female in broad daylight whilst she was unconscious with no capacity to consent or defend herself until she remembered his breathing woke her up and him on top of her."

The woman, in her late 20s, screamed at the 36-year-old, who she did not know, which alerted a passer-by who saw her hit and push the attacker.

Mangar left the scene but was chased by the man. The rapist told the man he had tried to help the woman, believing she was having a heart attack, and the man left.

Mangar was seen at the park four days later and police arrested him.

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Officers searched his phone and found the selfies he took, which showed the victim lying down and exposed.

Jurors were told during his trial that a condom found at the scene carried Mangar's DNA, and the woman's profile was on a discarded, torn condom wrapper nearby.

DC Wong said: "Thankfully, a member of the public witnessed part of the incident and called the police.

"Although Mangar fled the scene he was identified four days later by the same member of public and this time the police arrested Mangar and a thorough investigation ensued with a tremendous team effort of the West Area Sapphire Team.

"The victim in this case has shown tremendous strength and courage to engage with the police; her evidence and that of the male witness were vital in ensuring a dangerous individual has been brought to justice."

Mangar, of Hillingdon, west London, was convicted of rape and sexual assault on 8 March after a four day trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

He is due to be sentenced on 26 April.

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