A MAN has been jailed for nine years for raping an 18-year-old woman in an alleyway in Hayes.

Jagdeep Chahal, 23, pounced on the teenager in Uxbridge Road after following her from a bus stop at around 2am on April 8 last year.

He put his hand across her mouth to stifle her screams and dragged her into the dark alley where he threatened then raped the terrified woman.

However, a woman passing by heard the victim's screams and alerted the police, who caught Chahal red-handed.

When police arrived at the scene, Chahal stopped the attack and tried to escape by vaulting over a wall, but officers chased and captured him.

Chahal, of Barnhill Road, Hayes, was found guilty of rape in September last year following a two-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court, and was today jailed for nine years.

He will now be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Sergeant Leanne Cranford, who investigated the rape, said: “Chahal has demonstrated that he is a predatory offender.

“The impact on his victim, her family, friends and the local community cannot be measured.

“My praise goes out to the victim who showed tremendous courage, not only on that night but also by her support in this prosecution to ensure that he has been taken off the streets of Hayes.

"I think special mention should be made of the woman who, rather than ignoring the victim's calls for help, picked up the phone and rang 999.

“Without that phonecall, Chahal may not have been apprehended and the victim may not have received the immediate support and care that she needed.”

She also urged anyone who believes they may also have been a rape victim to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.