London Bangla A Force for the community…
IT’S JAIL for three years and a decade on the sexual offenders’ register for Sobirjon Boltaev, 26, of Lawton Road, Leyton. That is the penalty for committing a sexual assault on a woman on the streets of Stratford.
The assault took place over a year ago. The survivor left a bar in Hackney Wick in the early hours of Sunday, 23rd July, intending to walk home. As she neared the Olympic Park, Boltaev approached her and assaulted her twice. The survivor was able to fight him off and cal the police.
The conviction came abour after a detailed investigation by the Metropolitan Police. They reviewed a great deal of CCTV which gave them clues to follow up. Boltaev was arrested on 1st September 2023 and charged the following day. He was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 24th June 2024 and sentenced at the same court on 29th November.
Detective Inspector Jon Ford, who led the investigation, said, “We hope this sentence brings some level of justice for the victim-survivor who bravely fought the perpetrator off in what must have been an extremely frightening situation and came straight to the police. I would like to thank her for providing vital evidence at the start of our investigation, as well as the other witnesses who came forward. We are determined in our continued effort to tackle violence against women and girls which we know has a significant and lasting impact on victim-survivors.”
It is welcome to see the Metropolitan Police trying to improve their work on sexual assaults. It is welcome to see their determination to see this case through to the end. However, the sentence does seem short. Will it stop this perpetrator assaulting more women when he is back on the streets – which may be in 18 months time, or less if he was held in custody after his arrest or conviction. Will it act as a deterrent to other young men?
It also raises the question of what do the custodians of the Olympic Park to do try to make their park safe for women to walk through or near late at night.
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