The father of a former child actress who was raped and killed after passing out on a bench has described how he wishes his late daughter had never entered the park where she died.
Natalie Shotter, 37, an NHS worker and mother of three, was attacked by sex predator Mohamed Iidow in Southall Park, west London.
Jurors at the Old Bailey heard how Ms Shotter died from a heart attack caused by being orally raped “over and over again”.
Iidow, 35, who had previously been convicted of trying to groom young people online, was found guilty of her rape and manslaughter.
In a victim impact statement Andrew Shotter recalled wonderful memories of his “feisty” daughter performing in front of thousands of people.
He said: “Hearing what happened in the last moments of her life was horrific.I feel powerless. In my head I am screaming to her not to go into the park. I cannot save her from that man.”
Mohamed Iidow raped Natalie Shotter as she lay unconscious on a park bench – Metropolitan Police/PA
On Friday, Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced Iidow to life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months.
He told Iidow that taking advantage of “exceptionally talented” Ms Shotter when she was unconscious was “wicked and utterly reckless”.
Even though there had never been a recorded case before of someone dying as a result of oral sex, there was a “high risk” that she would suffer really serious harm from what he did to her over “several minutes”, the judge said.
Iidow was a “dangerous offender” and had engaged in “explicit” sexual chat online with a girl he thought was aged 13 in August 2022 while under investigation for rape.
Dr Cas Shotter Weetman, an NHS cardiology practitioner, described her daughter as a “bundle of joy” who at the age of 12 had starred in the hit musical Les Miserables.
She had secured a place at the BRIT School in Croydon of performing arts and had worked in theatre and television.
She later had three children and worked for the British Heart Foundation before getting a job in clinical administration at her local NHS hospital.
Dr Shotter Weetman said: “She was brilliant at her job, kind to staff and patients alike.
“The day I found out about Nat, I felt absolutely sick and I felt a terrible feeling of doom. I was in absolute shock.
“I then had to later learn from the police that my daughter had died in these horrific circumstances.
“When Mohamed Iidow – and that is the only time I will say his name – was finally charged I was so glad but I realised everything was still to come.
“Watching the CCTV of my daughter being raped was desperately sad to see. No mother should have to see that.”
‘Destroyed my family’
Addressing the defendant, she went on: “Hearing the medical evidence of how you caused my daughter’s death destroyed my family.
“No woman should have to fear going to a park and sitting on a bench. It’s disgusting.
“You went after a vulnerable woman. She was a lovely mum, a great sister and daughter, a great kid. We are missing our beautiful girl.”
During the trial, the court had heard how Ms Shotter had been seen happily dancing in the street before going into the park after a night out.
Jurors had viewed CCTV of Iidow walking past the victim three times in a “predatory” way as she sat on the bench.
Half an hour later she was lying down showing “no clear movement” when Iidow approached her “nonchalantly”, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said.
She was “deeply unconscious” when Iidow repeatedly raped her orally, even moving Ms Shotter’s body around in different positions.
Afterwards, he drove back to his home in Hounslow, west London, via a Shell garage where he stopped to buy cat food and mouthwash.
Ms Shotter, whose three children are aged between five and 19, was found dead by a passer-by in the park in the early morning on July 17 2021.
Following the sentencing, Kirsty O’Connor, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Natalie Shotter had been on a night out enjoying herself and she was preyed upon by Mohamed Iidow.
“During police interviews, he stated that Natalie was alive and consenting to the sexual activity with him.
“However, CCTV footage has proved that to not be the case, with the victim unconscious during the entire attack.
“The CPS is determined to deliver justice for victims of rape. Tragically, this vile attack cost Natalie her life and we’d like to express our deepest condolences to her children and loved ones at this time,” she added.