Police force confirms child rapist jailed after five years on the run was of 'Iraqi descent'

A POLICE force has disclosed the ethnicity of a predatory sex offender who groomed a child and then raped her in his flat as he has been jailed.

Apparently using new guidance, which allows forces to release details on the nationality and ethnicity of foreign offenders, Kent Police confirmed Ako Hawla, who was on the run for nearly five years, was of Iraqi descent.

He fled the country to try and evade justice but was tracked down in France and returned under a European Arrest Warrant.

Officers were initially alerted to concerns for the victim’s welfare, after she was reported missing on 13 June 2019.

Hawla had previously groomed the child through various social media platforms and apps and had persuaded her to meet him.

He was 19 at the time but when the victim told him she was only 13 he claimed he was also a juvenile.

They travelled to his address in Frobisher Road, Erith, where the victim was repeatedly abused. Patrols searching for the missing child tracked her to the flat and when Hawla realised police were at his home he instructed the victim to pretend she was simply sleeping on his couch. He told her to tell officers she was 17.

Hawla was arrested and later bailed, as investigating officers sought to build a successful case. He then fled the country but in April 2024 was tracked down in France and extradited to the UK. A trial then took place at Woolwich Crown Court where Hawla, now aged 26, was found guilty of rape, as well as a further five sexual offences. He was also convicted of child abduction.

On 14 August 2025, Hawla was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment. He will have to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole. He was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Kim Bashford said: "Hawla exploited a child’s trust in the most sinister and deplorable way. He struck up conversations with her through social media apps and after they met for the first time then subjected her to a truly terrifying ordeal. Having successfully pursued Hawla into Europe; it is really pleasing that we have now been able to finally ensure he has faced justice. I really do hope that the victim starts to feel safer and can rebuild her life now that he is prison.

"I would also like to encourage parents to remind children of the precautions they should take when using the internet and social media apps. Children should only communicate with people that they know personally and report any suspicions or inappropriate advances from strangers to their parents, schools or the police."

The force has been asked if Hawla had British citizenship and if he was legally allowed to be in the country.