'Wicked' predator jailed for 10 years after raping 'deeply unconscious' woman on park bench

Mohamed Iidow

PA
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 13/12/2024

- 14:46

Updated: 13/12/2024

- 15:07

Mohamed Iidow claimed the sexual activity was consensual but was found guilty of rape and manslaughter in October after a trial

A sexual predator who who raped and killed an NHS worker in an attack on a park bench has been jailed for life.

Mohamed Iidow repeatedly sexually assaulted 37-year-old Natalie Shotter while she was passed out in Southall Park, west London, after a night out.


Following an Old Bailey trial, Iidow, 35, was found guilty of rape and manslaughter. He has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months.

Jurors were not told of his previous conviction for sexual activity by seeking to groom young people online.

\u200bMohamed Iidow was found guilty of rape and manslaughter

Mohamed Iidow was found guilty of rape and manslaughter

Met Police

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Shotter had died of a heart attack caused by Iidow raping her "again and again."

Earlier, CCTV footage was shown of Shotter sitting on a bench with a different man when the defendant walked past and looked at them.

Shotter was lying down, showing “no clear movement” for around half an hour before the defendant approached her "nonchalantly", Morgan said. During the attack, the victim had been "deeply unconscious", she said.

Afterwards, the defendant drove back to his home in Hounslow, west London, via a Shell garage where he stopped to buy cat food and mouthwash. Shotter was found dead by a passer-by in the park in the early morning of July 17, 2021.

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Natalie Shotter

Natalie Shotter

Met Police

Shotter's mother, NHS cardiology practitioner Dr Cas Shotter Weetman, paid tribute to her daughter after what she described as an "absolutely unbearable" trial.

She said she was a "beautiful soul" and the "kindest girl" who would help others, as well as a "great mum" to her three children aged five to 19.

Following the sentencing, Kirsty O’Connor, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Natalie Shotter had been on a night out enjoying herself and she was preyed upon by Mohamed Iidow. He raped her repeatedly, while she was unconscious, which caused her death.

"The investigation was extremely complex and involved working closely with the police and expert witnesses to establish what had happened to the victim and what led to her death.

"During police interviews, he stated that Natalie was alive and consenting to the sexual activity with him. However, CCTV footage has proved that to not be the case, with the victim unconscious during the entire attack."

Father Andrew Shotter recalled his "feisty" daughter with "wonderful memories" of her performing in Les Miserables in front of thousands of people.

He said: "Hearing what happened in the last moments of her life was horrific."

The former ambulance service worker added: "I feel powerless. In my head, I am screaming to her not to go into the park. I cannot save her from that man."

Shotter’s partner, Anthony Wilson, said in his statement that the thought of her killer made him "angry" and that his new role of being a single father made him feel "stretched in every aspect".

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