A man who sexually assaulted a woman while she slept at her residence in Tower Hamlets has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Darrel Phillips (pictured above), aged 44, hailing from Saffron Walden, Essex, was found guilty on Thursday, 14 July, at Southwark Crown Court.
This verdict followed an investigation led by detectives specializing in sexual offenses.
Phillips, who was acquainted with the victim, visited her address in Tower Hamlets on July 12, 2020, with intentions of spending the night in her spare room.
During the early hours, Phillips made unwanted advances, expressing his desire for sexual activity, which the woman firmly declined. Believing she would be safe in her own bedroom, she left the room.
However, when she woke up the next morning, she was in pain and discovered that someone had removed her clothing from the waist down. She also recollected an incident of Phillips being in her bed, and she had told him "no."
The victim promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to an investigation by the Central East Command Unit. Phillips was apprehended, but during the interview, he refused to answer questions and denied all accusations.
The victim received support from specially trained officers and provided a detailed account.
The Crown Prosecution Service charged Phillips with assault by penetration. After a five-day trial, a jury found him guilty.
During the sentencing on Tuesday, 5 September, he received an indefinite restraining order against the victim and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Detective Sergeant Michael Dixon from the Central East Safeguarding Team commended the victim for her courage throughout the process and emphasized the importance of reporting such crimes.
He encouraged anyone in a similar situation to contact the police, assuring them of support from specially trained officers.
Sexual Offences Investigative Techniques Officer (SOIT) Thomas Coe from the Central East Safeguarding team stressed the significance of reporting sexual offenses promptly.
He cited the success of this conviction as a result of immediate reporting, which allowed for crucial forensic evidence collection.
Coe hoped that this case would serve as a signal to other victims that the authorities are dedicated to fully investigating such crimes.
In another news, the body of a Nigerian Student who went missing mysteriously has been found but with her eyes plucked out. See detailed story here
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