London rapist Keanu Vella jailed 12 years for rape, false imprisonment

A registered sex offender, Keanu Vella has been jailed for more than 12 years for rape, false imprisonment and breach of his court ordered notification requirements.

Detective Constable Jessica Stephens of the Met’s East Area Public Protection Unit said Vella is a registered sex offender who is a clear danger to women.

Stephen said he had demonstrated that he is unable to comply with the court ordered notifications that allow him his freedom, and that it is right that he would now be in a place where he no longer posed a threat to women and girls.

“I hope that the sentence handed down encourages other victims of sex offences to come forward. It is so important that these offences are reported so we can support victims and start building cases against offenders to bring them before the courts,” she said.

Keanu Vella, 30 of Maldon Walk, Woodford Green appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 11 July for sentencing for failing to comply with notification requirements he was sentenced to 40 weeks’ imprisonment to run concurrently.

The Met Police said for false imprisonment Vella was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment to run concurrently and for rape, he was sentenced to 12 years and nine months’ imprisonment with an extended licence to 18 years and nine months.

According to the police, he is also subject to an indefinite Registered Sex Offender notification requirement, saying that Vella had changed his address to a property at Maldon Walk, Woodford, without notifying his offender management officer of his new address.

The police said while at the new address, on 10 May 2023, Vella made arrangements for a woman offering escort services to visit him at home.

The police added that when his agreed appointment time expired, he held the victim against her will and that holding her at knife point, he raped her.

Police were called by a passer-by when the victim was found in the street outside the address in a distressed state.

Vella was arrested at the scene.

The police said on 12 May, 2023 he was charged and remanded in custody to appear in court where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements.

He later appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 12 March 2024 where he pleaded guilty to the other offences and was remanded ahead of sentencing.

PC Emma Porter the victim’s Sexual Offence Liaison Officer, who supported the victim throughout the entire process, said: “We are grateful to the victim in this case. She has shown strength, courage and patience throughout the court process.

“Now that Vella is behind bars it is my sincere hope that she can put his abhorrent actions behind her and move forward with her life.”