A MAN has been jailed for ten years after raping a 14-year-old girl twice during an attack in a hotel room.

Tahir Afzal, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of carrying out the two assaults on the teenager - who cannot be identified - in August 2008.

Afzal, 28, of Chadwell Heath Lane, Chadwell Heath, lured the girl to a hotel where he launched the attack just an hour after meeting her.

He then hid from police for seven months before finally being cornered at a house in Chadwell Heath.

He was convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to 10 years in prison on February 11 after a lengthy trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

DS Jason Prendergast, of Redbridge Police, said: "Tahir Afzal thought that he had got away with this crime, he went to great lengths to avoid police, and working with partner agencies and other departments we were able to track him down and arrest him.

"The victim was extremely courageous, giving her evidence, despite pressure being put on her by Afzal's friends.

"A very dangerous offender has been brought to justice and I pay tribute to the investigation team at Redbridge for there efforts in this case."