AN AMERICAN citizen who raped five teenage girls — the youngest just 13 — while living in London after blackmailing them online has been jailed.
Eniola Balogun, who only turned 20 last week, persuaded young girls through social media websites Snapchat and Instagram to send him intimate photographs.
He then threatening to distribute the images unless they had sex with him.
Some of the victims were even told to perform sex acts via video on more than one occasion.
And detectives fear there may be even more young victims who have not been traced and urged any to come forward.
Detectives say Balogun took his victims phones off them and promised to return theim after sexual contact. Two of the victims were threatened with violence if they resisted.
They said the five victims, aged between 13 and 16, met Balogun at various locations in London including Tottenham, Harlow, Thamesmead and Woolwich.
Balogun, of no fixed address but who had been living with relatives in the Tottenham area, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court in September to four counts of rape on four separate teenage girls, aged between 13 and 16. He also pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of a child.
He had been found guilty of a further three counts of rape following an earlier trial at the same court in March. These offences related to a 16-year-old girl.
Balogun was locked up for a total of 21 years and the judge at Wood Green Crown Court also ordered that Balogun is subject to an extended licence period of eight years which will come into effect on his release from prison.
Balogun will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Det Sgt Tony Killeen said: ‘I wish to acknowledge the courage of these young people in coming forward and providing the vital evidence needed to prosecute Balogun.
‘The teenage girls were victims of online sexual offences and did not recognise that they were being abused.
‘He used his social media profile to gain their trust, share intimate photos and then used those images to coerce his victims into sexual activity.’
He added: ‘My advice to any child or young person is: do not share pictures online that you would find embarrassing if anyone else, such as your friends or parents were to see them as you have no control over the images once sent.
‘But if you are worried about someone sharing intimate pictures of you online please don’t let embarrassment stop you from contacting the police.’
