A rapist has been jailed for eight years after detectives traced him from DNA he left on a teddy bear

The victim, in her 50s, used the soft toy to push Bardhyl Mustafaj, 64 away from her during the attack and it provided crucial evidence in bringing him to justice.

Mustafaj, who was known to the victim, had visited her home in Hampstead Heath, to fix a lightbulb. He was jailed on 19 January for four counts of rape that took place in May 2019.

Detective Constable Sam Orchard, who led the investigation from the Complex Investigation Team, said: “I would firstly like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting this crime so quickly; she went through the most horrendous ordeal.

This allowed officers to promptly get to work, forensically analysing the crime scene, gathering a range of DNA evidence, interviewing potential witnesses and locating the suspect.

“Their relentless attention to detail meant that no stone was left unturned. A key piece of evidence was the presence of Mustafaj’s DNA on the teddy bear which the victim used to push him off when he tried to kiss her.

“Mustafaj is now behind bars for a considerable time and will not be able to prey on other vulnerable women.

“We would encourage any victims of sexual assault to come forward to the police. You will be listened to and we will work hard to support you while we investigate what has happened.”

Mustafaj, of Coupland Place, Greenwich, pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury on 1 December at Wood Green Crown Court. He had been arrested on 6 May 2019 and charged on 29 June 2022.

The Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls. Read our action plan here.