A Woolwich teenager has been jailed for 11 years for the rape of three girls.

Joel Ampadu, 19, of Tivoli Gardens, was sentence at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday (August 17).

He was found guilty of five counts of rape of a girl under the age of 13 years, three counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16 years and one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 years.

The court heard that Ampadu raped the first girl in 2012 when she was 13.

In 2015 Ampadu met the second victim, who was 12, in Maryon Park. He took her to a secluded spot and raped her.

He then raped her on a further four occasions, including in a car park in Creton Street, Woolwich.

He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting her.

In October 2016, he raped a 15-year-old girl in the stairwell of a block of flats and at his home address, filming the incident on his phone.

Detective Constable Amy Beautridge of the Met's child abuse and sexual offences command, said: “Ampadu targeted these girls and then used fear to control and manipulate them for his own sexual gratification, often recording them on his mobile phone.

"The three young victims in this case have shown immense courage and bravery; not only in coming forward to report these despicable crimes, but also in seeing the investigation through to court.

"Their actions have helped to ensure that a dangerous, sexual predator has been removed from the streets and that he is no longer in a position to harm other young girls.

“I hope that this conviction brings some closure for the complainants and would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual violence to report the matter to police.”

An NSPCC spokesman for the south east said: “Ampadu’s actions were predatory and prolific. His victims have shown bravery beyond their years in coming forward and we hope this encourages other victims of abuse to do the same.

“The NSPCC’s Childline service is there for children free and in confidence 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk. Adults concerned about a child should call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.”