Description
A man has been jailed after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Chester city centre.
Gurpreet Sahota was found guilty of one count of sexual assault following a trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded earlier today, Thursday 12 June.
The 30-year-old, of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. He is also required to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
The court heard that shortly after 2am on Sunday 8 December 2024, the victim, a 22-year-old woman, was walking home alone after finishing her shift at work.
As she walked towards the Fountains Roundabout, she was approached by Sahota who told her, “You shouldn’t walk home alone”.
Despite reassuring Sahota that she was OK, he continued to follow her as she walked down the ramp to go into the subway.
Sahota then placed his hand down the victim’s trousers and touched her inappropriately. The victim initially froze, before regaining her composure and fleeing the scene to seek help from two passers-by.
Sahota subsequently walked away from the scene.
The incident was reported to Cheshire Police and an investigation was launched by detectives at Chester CID.
Following extensive enquiries, including extensive CCTV and mobile phone analysis, Sahota was identified as the suspect and arrested at a nearby pub where he had been residing while working as a decorator.
During interview Sahota admitted that he was the person in the footage, but denied touching her, instead stating that he had maintained a safe distance of 60cm.
Following the guilty verdict, Detective Constable Barbara Billington said:
“I would like to recognise the bravery the victim has shown throughout this investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
"Everyone has the right to feel safe in public.Nobody should have to experience what the victim has been through, and I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide her with some closure and help her recover from what she has been through.
“Sahota chose to take advantage of a woman while she was alone, and without her consent. Instead of admitting his guilt, he chose to put her through an extremely traumatic trial, where she had to relive the impact of his crime.
“Detectives worked non-stop to identify Sahota, he had no links to Chester. Large amounts CCTV footage were reviewed to identify him and we were then able to track his movements. Thanks to the officers involved in this complex case, along with the victim’s courage and tenacity, Sahota will now face the consequences of his actions.”