Man Jailed For Ealing Sex Attacks

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Police believe Sinuthujaan Yoganathan may have commiteed other offences

A man found guilty of a series of sex attacks on women at night in Perivale, Northolt and and Harrow has been jailed for nine years.

Sinuthujaan Yoganathan, 33 of St Margaret's Avenue, Harrow, was found guilty of five sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault following a three-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, 5 June.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was granted by the judge with various conditions to control his behaviour when released from prison.

The court heard how between April 2016 and July 2016, five women were sexually assaulted by a man. The defendant targeted lone women late at night in order to sexually assault them. On one occasion he attempted to sexually assault a sixth victim.

One attack - committed in Eastcote Lane, South Harrow on 10 July 2016 - was caught on CCTV and shows Yoganathan walk past the victim and then watch her from his car for over 20 minutes before sexually assaulting only when she walks into a secluded area off the main road.

Whilst the method and the description of the suspect led police to link the attacks, there was no DNA evidence recovered that could identify a suspect.

In one attack a car was found to have been used by the suspect - a white Audi A6 saloon. On the 14 August 2016 officers on patrol of the area affected by the attacks, saw a white Audi A6. They stopped the car and its driver - identified as Yoganathan - was subsequently arrested in connection with the investigation. In a search of his home address officers recovered a distinctive Scotland football shirt that matched the T-shirt that the suspect was wearing in the CCTV of the 10 July 2016 offence.

Five of the victims subsequently positively identified Yoganathan as their attacker. In interview, Yoganathan could give no explanation for being identified as the attacker in five of the offences, and said the victims were mistaken. During his trial, he gave a completely different version of events to what he had said to police in interview.

Detective Inspector Tom Williams, who led the investigation, said: "This sentence shows how seriously the court takes these types of offences. I would like to once again commend the victims on their courage throughout the investigation and trial. The defendant has shown no remorse and denied the offences throughout, changing his account to fit the evidence. The jury saw through his lies and found him guilty of these attacks.

"It is possible that there may be other, unreported victims of Yoganathan, or even similar attacks. We would urge them to come forward, and be assured that we will thoroughly investigate any offences reported to us."

Yoganathan was found guilty of the following offences at court:

- Sexual assault against a female (victim 1) in Cecil Manning Close, Perivale on 24 April 2016;
- Sexual assault against a female (victim 2) in Hapgood Close, Northolt on 3 July 2016;
- Sexual assault against a female (victim 3) in Eastcote Lane, South Harrow on 10 July 2016;
- Sexual assault against a female (victim 4) in, Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane on 16 July 2016;
- Sexual assault against a female (victim 5) in Herga Court, Harrow-on-the Hill on 16 July 2016;
- Attempted sexual assault against a female (victim 6) in Acock Grove, Northolt on 17 July 2016.

 

15th September 2017