Algerian man sentenced to 21 years for rape in London

On September 19, 2026, Isleworth Crown Court sentenced 28-year-old Salem Rekoub to 21 years in prison for the violent sexual assault of a woman in West London. The perpetrator, who entered the UK in 2023 on a tourist visa and was working illegally as a food delivery driver for Deliveroo, committed the attack in July 2024. He targeted the victim while she was semi-conscious at a bus stop in Chelsea, dragging her into a side street and assaulting her for approximately 17 minutes between parked vehicles. The victim sustained 33 separate bruises during the ordeal.

The court heard that Rekoub acted with extreme brutality, and reports indicate that following the attack, he attempted to locate the victim at the hospital where she was receiving treatment. During the trial, the judge described Rekoub as a "public danger." CCTV evidence reportedly showed the perpetrator smirking after the incident. The sentencing brings a conclusion to a case that has caused significant public outrage due to the brazen nature of the assault and the perpetrator's subsequent behavior.