Vincentian serving 15 years for mugging, rape of women in UK

While persons are still trying to come to grips with the actions of alleged murderer and kidnapper Veron Primus, the violent actions of another Vincentian man has been punished in the United Kingdom.

Blair Charles, a 39-year-old mechanic from Edinboro, who left these shores for the British armed forces a few years ago, is now serving a 15-year prison sentence for mugging two women and raping one of the same women at knifepoint.{{more}}

Charles, who lived in Gable Close, Lewisham, close to where he committed the crimes, was caught, according to an online publication after he left a distinctive ring at another crime scene. He was charged last October with two counts of rape, kidnapping, two counts of robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, theft and two counts of handling stolen goods. He was arrested on Saturday, October 17, 2015, following an investigation by the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command and jailed last January.

He is said to have raped a 29-year-old woman twice as she walked home from a bus stop in Lewisham and was caught after he dropped his ring when he forced his way into another woman’s house.

Said, the online Mirror, “Blair Charles, 39, attacked his 29-year-old victim at knifepoint as she walked home from a bus stop in Lewisham, southeast London, in the early hours of March 8, 2015.

“The mechanic demanded the victim’s bank card and pin number before he forced her around 100 yards into the back garden of a property in Baring Road where he raped her twice.

“Two months earlier Charles had followed a woman home before barging into her house as she opened her front door. He threatened to kill her before stealing her handbag and running from the house”.

The online paper adds, “Charles was caught after dropping this distinctive ring at the scene. When police arrived at the scene, the victim noticed the ring which had been left in the hallway. Due to a distinctive hallmark, the ring could be traced to the southeast London jeweller who had sold it. Charles’ home was close to both crime scenes and he was arrested on October 17.

Charles initially denied involvement in both offences, but pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of robbery and one count of theft on November 16.

Detective Sergeant Corrado Di Mascio of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command described Charles as a violent offender who preyed on lone women as they made their way home at night.

“We know he carried out two horrific attacks and there is a possibility he may have offended elsewhere,” said Detective Di Mascio.