Photo: Man who broke into woman's home and raped her jailed after being caught using her bank card in McDonalds

A man who broke into a woman's home and raped her has been jailed after he was caught using her bank card in McDonalds. Daniel Wallace, 33, of Weymouth Terrace, E2, was sentenced to 12 years at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday, November 13.

He was found guilty at the same court on Friday, 6 October of rape following a re-trial. He was found guilty of burglary at the initial trial on Monday, 19 June.

Wallace was arrested in possession of what the judge described as a 'Rape Kit' after the attack.
The court heard how, in the early hours of 11 September 2016, the victim, aged in her 20s, walked back alone to her Canonbury home after enjoying an evening out with friends.

Her next recollection was lying on her sofa, unable to move whilst attempting to push an unknown man off her. She woke up naked in her bed with injuries to her body.

Upon examination of her flat, she discovered that property belonging to herself and her flatmates had been stolen. The woman reported the rape to police the following day and she was supported by specialist officers.

Whilst awaiting results from the forensic tests, the victim's bank card - which was stolen during the rape - was used at McDonalds in Walthamstow.
Enquiries were undertaken to identify the person using the bank card. Prior to this Wallace had been identified from forensic tests carried out.

A review of the McDonalds CCTV showed Wallace in the company of an unknown male and female using the victim's stolen bank card to buy a selection of meals.

Wallace was arrested on 30 November 2016. Upon his arrest, he was found to be in possession of lubricants, the drug GHB and Viagra.

During interview, Wallace remained silent to all questions. He was subsequently charged with rape and burglary on 1 December 2016.

Detective Constable Colin Hutton, the investigating officer from Met's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said:

"Wallace is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on a vulnerable woman as she made her way home after enjoying an evening out with friends. He then drugged and raped her in her own home and then proceeded to burgle the property while she was passed out cold as a result of the GHB he gave her.

"The items found on Wallace upon his arrest show the preparations he had taken to carry out this attack and indicates that he may have been planning to carry out similar offences in the future.

"I would like to praise the victim's courage for reporting this heinous crime to us and for helping us to put Wallace behind bars and off London's streets. I hope today's sentence will give the victim some measure of closure and comfort."