A man who sexually exploited three teenage girls has been jailed after Met detectives carried out an investigation into historic offences.
Met detectives worked diligently and sensitively to secure the conviction of Benjamin Agyemang after one victim-survivor came forward to police a decade after she had endured the abuse.
Benjamin Agyemang, 45 (4.11.78) of Marlborough Grove, Southwark was sentenced to 13 and a half years’ imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, 9 November.
He was found guilty on Wednesday, 27 September of one count of attempting to procure a girl under the age of 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and four counts of sexual activity with a child.
Detectives spent two years investigating the case which covered a period of 20 years and uncovered further victim-survivors.
The court heard how Agyemang targeted the girls who were all between 14 and 16-years-old at the time of the offences. They knew Agyemang as ‘Marshay’ who lured them by offering them modelling work and then taking them back to his flat in the Elephant and Castle to sexually exploit them.
Detective Constable Kate Orr, from the Met’s Specialist Crime team, who carried out the investigation, said:
“I would like to commend the courage and strength of these women and I hope today’s outcome provides them with some degree of closure.
“Sexual predators like Agyemang who groom girls are often able to escape justice for years due to the fear and shame they instil in their victims. It’s not uncommon for it to take many years before victim-survivors feel able to report offences to police. The fact offences may have taken place a long time ago does not make investigating them any less of a priority.
“I hope this investigation will encourage victims of sexual offending to come forward to police. We have specially trained officers who will listen carefully to allegations and investigate them thoroughly, with a view to getting justice for victim-survivors and protecting future victims.”
In 2021 a woman reported offences of sexual assault and exploitation which took place in 2008 when she was 14-years-old. She was approached on the street by Agyemang, under the name ‘Marshay Ramone’, who told her he could get her into modelling for music videos. She began staying at his flat for weeks at a time, manipulated and unable to leave, where she would be sexually abused by Agyemang and multiple paying ‘clients’ a day.
During this time she witnessed him sexually exploiting other girls and young women, she realised how damaging her situation was and in 2012 she was able to escape the abuse.
Agyemang was arrested following the report and it became clear to officers he may have committed further offences so they set out to identify other victims.
A school friend of the first victim-survivor was identified and contacted by officers. It was uncovered that as a 15-year-old she had gone to Agyemang’s flat on two occasions where she was sexually abused by a ‘client’.
Through careful investigation, a further victim-survivor was identified. She described how at the age of 16 she had attended Agyemang’s flat on the promise he could make her a model. He took her to a bar and introduced her to an older wealthy man who he suggested was important in the modelling business. This was a lie, instead Agyemang had “sold” her as an escort without her knowledge. She was taken to the man’s house and seriously sexually assaulted.
In June 2022 Agyemang was further arrested and charged with offences against all three victim-survivors.
Everyone has the right to feel safe in London and officers and staff continue to work every day with communities and our partners to make London safer so everyone can go about their daily lives without fear.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape or you have information about an offender, contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency – there are specially trained officers who will listen and investigate where needed.
Further information, including details of agencies and charities that can offer support can be found on our website.
As part of A New Met for London plan, the Met is doing more to build trust and support our London’s communities with issues that impact them the most. The Met is putting more people and focus into the team’s protecting women and children from violence and going after predatory men who commit those crimes. To read more about our plans to tackle violence against women and girls read A New Met for London.
