A Deliveroo worker has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after raping a woman he found semi-conscious at a bus stop in July 2024. Salem Rekoub, 28, dragged the woman, in her 40s, down a side street by her arms and raped her repeatedly over a 17-minute period. During the attack, the victim was unable to fully wake up and was told by Rekoub to "be quiet." The incident left her with 33 bruises and has resulted in seizures since the attack. Rekoub was found guilty of three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault by penetration at Isleworth Crown Court. Following the attack, Rekoub called emergency services but claimed the woman had been drinking heavily and that he was only trying to help. He gave police a false name and followed the ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he searched the emergency unit in an attempt to locate the victim. CCTV footage showed him walking through hospital corridors, and when confronted by staff, he claimed he was "here to find someone." The victim was able to whisper to paramedics what had happened, leading to Rekoub’s arrest nine days later by the Metropolitan Police. In a victim impact statement, the woman described the attack as life-changing and deeply traumatic. She said it had "killed me" and left her feeling worthless, even leading her to attempt suicide. She described being in a constant state of fear and feeling unable to escape during the attack, as Rekoub had his hands around her throat and told her to stay quiet. She also mentioned feeling numb and disassociated, with speech now affected by slurred words. Prosecutor Patricia May explained that the woman had been out with friends but got off the bus early due to feeling unwell. She collapsed on the pavement, where Rekoub, a complete stranger, found her. He leaned his Deliveroo bike against a wall and dragged her into a side street away from public view. While she was in and out of consciousness, he committed the sexual offences. May also noted that there were "incomplete checks" regarding whether Rekoub was legally allowed to work in the UK, as he was on a tourist visa. Rekoub’s defense lawyer, Brinder Soora, stated that he had fled violence in Algeria and was "eager to find a relationship again." During the trial, the defense reportedly left the victim "shaking in fear," at one point forcing her to leave the courtroom. She said Rekoub’s claims during the trial made her question her own experience and added to her trauma. The judge sentenced him to 21 years in prison and described him as a public danger.