Teenager sentenced after Newfoundpool sexual assaults

A 14-year-old boy has been sentenced at court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two women in Newfoundpool last year.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced after pleading guilty in August 2024 to the following offences:

• Sexual assault on a female and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place on Wednesday 10 July in Ruby Street.

• Attempted robbery and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place on Monday 29 July in Stephenson Drive.

• Sexual assault on a female and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place on Wednesday 31 July in Rowan Street.

• Possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place on Thursday 1 August in Fosse Road North.

The sexual assault in Ruby Street was originally a charge of attempted oral rape on a female. The attempted robbery in Stephenson Drive was originally a charge of affray with intent to commit a sexual offence on a female.

The youth, who was 13 years old at the time the offences were committed, was given a three year and six months custodial sentence at a Young Offender Institute when he was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday (4 March).

During the first incident, a woman was followed by the defendant before he approached her on Ruby Street. While holding a knife towards her face, he pushed her to the ground demanding oral sex from her. He sexually assaulted her by touching her over her clothes before ejaculating on her.

The second incident the defendant followed a woman in Stephenson Drive where he was believed to be armed with a knife. He followed her onto a driveway before she managed to scream, and he ran off.

In the third incident, a woman became aware of someone following her as she walked along Rowan Street. When she turned to confront the person, the defendant, armed again with a knife, told her not to scream or he would kill her. He indecently exposed himself to her before forcing her to touch his penis. Disturbed by some people leaving a nearby house, he ran off.

The incidents were being investigated individually when it became apparent, with the similarities what had happened as well as the suspect description, they were committed by the same person.

Extra proactive patrols were put in place by neighbourhood officers as the investigation continued which also included a public appeal for information.

As part of these patrols, a youth matching the suspect’s description was stopped by officers in Fosse Road North on the evening of Thursday 1 August. He was found in possession of a knife and wearing the same coat and shoes as seen in CCTV for two of the offences, as well as the same trousers in CCTV for the remaining offence.

He was arrested, questioned, and later charged with the above offences.

Detective Constable Gemma Fox, who was the investigating officer, said: “This was clearly worrying behaviour and even more concerningly that it was committed by a boy, who was 13-year-old at the time.

“These women were subjected to terrifying experiences by a teenager displaying predatory and aggressive behaviour. In less than a month, he had already targeted three women. Had the work the investigation team carried out not been done, alongside those targeted proactive patrols, resulted in his arrest, we could easily have been looking at further offences and sadly more victims."

DC Fox added: “These women have shown immense courage in coming forward and engaging with us reliving their encounters which I am sure they would want to forget. I want to praise them for their strength and commitment in supporting our investigation and the court proceedings.

“It is hard to understand why a child of 13 years of age was intent on carrying out such shocking crimes and I hope the time he spends in custody will give him the opportunity to remorsefully think about what he has done, and the lasting affect his crimes have left on these women.”

Inspector Ryan Hayes, Commander for West Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: “We are pleased that the defendant pleaded guilty and will be spending a number of years in custody for what he did.

“The level of offending he displayed was very concerning which only added to our dedication in assisting the investigation team in identifying him and making that arrest.

“This action demonstrates our commitment to our local communities in keeping them safe and bringing those responsible to justice.”

There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

• Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences
• If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you can also contact Juniper Lodge – a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – by phoning 0116 273 3330 or visiting https://juniperlodge.org.uk/
• You can also find your nearest SARC by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-a-rape-and-sexual-assault-referral-centre