Rapist guilty over attack on teenage girl at Telford home

A 'dangerous' 23-year-old man has been found guilty by a court of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Telford home and groping another schoolgirl.

Paul Ahoto, of no fixed abode, was yesterday found guilty of rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment after a three-week trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

The offences took place in the home he lived at in Leegomery between September 2010 and November 2011.

Ahoto, from Ghana, covered the 16-year-old's mouth and hit her before raping her, the jury had been told.

The schoolgirl, who was 15, used a cigarette lighter to stop Ahoto touching her.

The jury found Ahoto not guilty of another count of sexual assault and false imprisonment against a 26-year-old mother and a third count of false imprisonment against the 16-year-old.

Judge Robin Onions ordered a psychiatric report before sentencing.

He said: "I think this man is potentially dangerous. It's a question of whether it will be a hospital order or a long prison sentence."

He warned Ahoto that he could face deportation.

Detective Inspector Mike Nally said he was pleased with the guilty verdicts. He said: "We hope these convictions act as some consolation for the victims and their families as they move forward with their lives."

Ahoto maintained his innocence throughout the trial and said he could not explain why the allegations were being made.