May 2022

Evil Croydon paedophile found guilty of raping girl under 10 multiple times

A vile sexual predator from Croydon has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a girl under 10 years old.

Simon John Hayden-Reno, of Cudham Drive, New Addington, was convicted after a trial at Croydon Crown Court yesterday 

The 28-year-old committed a string of offences between 2017 and 2018, mainly at a house in New Addington.

He was known to the victim – but was not related to her – and the court heard how he took advantage of his young victim whenever they were alone.

He was convicted of a number of other offences, including:

• One count of rape of a girl under 13

• Three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration

• Three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity

• One count of assault of a girl under 13 by touching

• Six counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

He will be sentenced to jail later this year.

On October 4, 2018 the victim, who was under ten-years-old, told her mother what had been happening and this was immediately reported to the Metropolitan Police.

An immediate investigation began by detectives from the South Area Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Hayden-Reno was arrested and interviewed three days later, but he denied the allegation.

Numerous statements were taken and it was during a forensic search of Hayden-Reno’s phone that the indecent images of children were uncovered.

As a result of the enquiry, he was charged with the offences on May 5, 2022.

The young girl was supported by specialist officers and other professional agencies who supported her and her family.

Police say that the young age and vulnerability of the victim meant that police had to carefully conduct a rigorous investigation to amass the necessary evidence.