Predator caught spying on woman in Lewisham High Street gym

A PREDATOR was caught hiding behind a wall spying on a woman enjoying a late-night workout at a gym in Lewisham High Street.

Mohammed Aminu forced his way into NRG Gym by tail-gaiting a woman as she entered one of the pin-operated security pods.

The 28-year-old convicted sex offender, of Newlands Park, Sydenham, then went upstairs and sat behind another woman – the victim – while she was working out.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, noticed Aminu staring intently at her and started filming him in a bid to deter him.

However, his creepy behaviour continued as he followed her down into the women’s only section and started staring at her in the mirror.

The victim confronted him about being in the restricted area before walking away a second time, only to later spot him hiding behind a wall – glaring at her again.

Mohammed Aminu — **PICTURED: Aminu has previous convictions for sex assaults, stalking and possession of a knife**

She told the court on Friday: “I felt as if I was going to be kidnapped, attacked, raped, killed – who knows.

“I asked my male friend to come to the gym to escort me home and as I was waiting in the common area for him I saw out of the corner of my eye that he (Aminu) was sitting on the floor behind a wall, peeping around the corner.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes. I started panicking and tearing up at this point. I took a video of him because I wanted proof of what he was doing.

“I knew he was going to wait for me to leave and follow me out. And I knew in my heart he had bad intentions.

NRG gym — **PICTURED: The predator coerced a member of the gym into letting him enter via the pin-operated access pods**

“When my friend arrived I went downstairs to meet him. But as I left the common area I saw him (Aminu) come out from behind the wall.”

The victim’s friend confronted Aminu after he arrived at the gym, which is open 24/7.

Giving evidence in court, the friend said: “I went inside and saw him following her. I asked him what was going on and he said ‘nothing’.

“My friend then said ‘that’s not the case, you have been following me the whole time I’ve been in the gym’.

“He had a grin on his face and said ‘it’s a misunderstanding’ and walked away.”

Aminu was later arrested and denied he was stalking the woman in a police interview, insisting he was just working out in the gym.

However, CCTV footage showed the predator was not exercising.

Instead the cameras filmed him entering the facility at around 11.30pm on December 27 and following the victim around the gym.

CCTV also showed him coercing his way into the gym, which was not staffed at the time.

The woman who let Aminu, who is not a member of NRG, into the gym provided a statement to the court explaining that she only allowed him entry because she feared for her safety.

She said: “When I reached the pods he approached me directly and started begging ‘please let me in’.

“I felt uncomfortable given he was much bigger than me and I became worried about what he would do if I refused him entry. I know previously some individuals have tried to kick down the gym doors.”

The gym member said she decided to let him enter the pod with her but made sure that she entered sideways so her back was not facing him.

Aminu, who was defending himself, denied stalking in court but did not offer any further evidence or argument.

The predator, who has previous convictions for knife possession, sexual assaults and stalking, was found guilty of one count of stalking by the magistrates.

He was denied bail and is due to be sentenced on March 20.

Predator caught spying on woman in Lewisham High Street gym

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