DETECTIVES and a judge praised the bravery of a 12-year-old girl who reported being raped by a stranger in a station toilet after he befriended her on a train journey.

Alvin Tuitt, 24, from south London, was jailed for 10 years on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to rape and attempted rape of the young girl in a disabled toilet in King’s Cross Station.

It was revealed during sentencing that he had a previous conviction for a similar offence.

The girl’s ordeal began on October 10 2022 when Tuitt befriended her on a train journey from Maryland station to King’s Cross, offering to lend her a power bank to charge her phone and paying for her train ticket. On arrival at King’s Cross he took her to a toilet and raped her before attempting to rape her again.

He will be on the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirement for life.

Detective Constable Mark Pink said: “The victim in this case was 12 years old and was extremely vulnerable. She has been extremely brave in telling police what happened and providing testimony to assist the investigation.

“The effect that this incident has had on her life and that of her family cannot be measured.

“Tuitt is a predator and he rightfully now faces a long time behind bars.”