An illegal immigrant living in Edgware who returned to the UK after being deported has been jailed for nine years for raping a 23-year-old Israeli tourist.

Kosovan Jetmir Xhelollari, 34, was deported in March last year but returned to Britain a short time later.

Harrow Crown Court heard how he met his victim, who cannot be named, in coffee shop Cafe de Paris, in Watford Way, Hendon, on August 2 last year. The pair talked and she accepted an invitation from Xhelollari to have dinner with him later that evening in Edgware.

After picking her up in his car, he said he needed to go home and change. When they arrived at his flat in the Stonegrove estate, he ordered her out of the car. She refused initially, but he persuaded her to enter the flat, where he raped her.

Afterwards he told his victim they were still going to the restaurant and threatened to kill her if she told anyone what had happened. At one point he claimed he was in the mafia.

But once at the Edgware bar, the woman said she was going to the toilet and managed to escape. Had she not reported the rape, say police, Xhelollari would still be living in the borough.

Detective Sergeant Paul Murray, of Barnet police's Sapphire Unit, which led the investigation, said: "Barnet police CONTINUED Pg 3 FROM Front Page will fully investigate these crimes that can and do cause such trauma to victims of sexual offences. The arrest and now successful prosecution of this individual will send a message to those who commit these horrific attacks that we will undertake to bring these individuals to justice."

Xhelollari was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on February 23. He must serve a minimum of four and a half years in jail, and will not be considered for parole until he is no longer deemed a danger to the public.

On completion of his sentence he will be deported.