A ‘predatory’ Catford landlord has been jailed after subjecting a tenant to a terrible sexual assault.

Ciro Pipolo, of Datchet Road in Catford, was sentenced to 22 months in prison by Woolwich Crown Court last Wednesday (July 15).

Pipolo, 40, was renting spare rooms in a house in Datchet Road with advertisements online.

On January 22 last year Pipolo was contacted by his victim, a 19-year-old woman, who wanted to rent a room.

He explained they would have to share a room, going for a ‘reasonable’ price, but that this would be temporary.

MORE TOP STORIES On the night his victim moved in, Pipolo sexually assaulted her while falling asleep, but denied the assault when she confronted him in the morning.

Pipolo was subsequently arrested on January 28 and charged with one count of sexual assault.

He denied he shared a room with her, claiming he had slept in a separate bedroom and insisted the allegation was false.

Detective Constable Danielle Clifton, from Lewisham CID, said: "Pipolo acted in a predatory manner and clearly exploited the fact that the victim was keen to move to a new accommodation.

"He completely took advantage of the victim and subjected her to a terrible ordeal."