'Dangerous sexual predator' used wig to disguise himself as a woman before sexually assaulting teenager

Watch: Man jailed for sexually assaulting teenager

A “dangerous sexual predator” who used a wig to disguise himself as a woman before sexually assaulting a teenager has been jailed.

Police said Mark Brown, of Newington Green, North London, is seen wearing a dress and leather jacket as he went into a “mad rush” to catch up with the woman as she jogged past his home.

CCTV footage shows him putting on a long silver wig as he chased after her. He followed her for about 500 metres before placing his hand on her shoulder.

The victim, who was in her late teens, was unaware she was being followed and before she could turn to see who it was, she was sexually assaulted by Brown.

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She tried to push him away and shouted at him but was pushed to the floor.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, continued kicking and screaming with her eyes closed, and when she opened them she saw her attacker was fleeing.

She only saw the long silver hair and called police immediately after the assault, which took place just before 4am on 20 September 2019.

Detectives worked with Islington Council to review CCTV and found footage of Brown sprinting from his home and a period when he was without the wig.

Read more: 'Vile sexual predator' raped defenceless 83-year-old woman in her own home

After being arrested and charged on 5 October 2019, Brown told police he thought the CCTV footage showed a woman, later telling police he had bought a wig for a fancy dress party but threw it out.

Brown was already on the sex offenders register and had been convicted of seven counts of sexual touching before.

He had also breached his licence conditions by going out between 10pm and 8am.

A jury convicted him of sexual assault at Wood Green Crown Court on 3 July and he was given five-and-a-half years in prison on 17 December.

Detective Constable Giash Uddin, the investigating officer from the Met’s Central East’s Safeguarding team, said: “Brown is a dangerous, sexual predator and I am pleased that the jury agreed with the overwhelming evidence we gathered against him.

“Brown was lying in wait, in disguise, ready to pounce on his unsuspecting victim.

“He has refused to admit his guilt throughout and forced his victim to re-live her traumatic ordeal by going to trial.

“I’d like to praise the victim for her courage and cooperation throughout our investigation.”

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