Leyton News

Man charged with rape after alleged Leyton coffee shop attack

Oualid Balti, 47, has been charged with sexual offences against three women, one of whom alleges she was raped in Costa Coffee

Credit: Google Streetview

A man has been charged with multiple sexual offences after a woman was reportedly raped in a Costa Coffee in Leyton.

Oualid Balti, 47, of Walthamstow, was charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on Sunday, 3rd August.

Police received a report that a woman had been raped inside Costa Coffee at Baker’s Arms in Leyton on Friday, 1st August. They later received reports from two other women.

Balti was arrested in connection with a police investigation into the alleged assaults on Saturday, 2nd August. Following police consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service he was charged and is set to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, 1st September. 

Costa Coffee did not respond to a request for comment. Its Baker’s Arms store in Lea Bridge Road has been shut since Saturday, 2nd August. 

Police said the victims are being supported by specialist officers. 


No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month.  £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.

Donate now with Pay Pal

More information on supporting us monthly or annually 

More Information about donations

Our newspaper and website are made possible by the support of readers and by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider helping us to continue to bring you news by disabling your ad blocker or supporting us with a small regular payment.