Locations
Barnfield Gardens, Plumstead Common Road, Greenwich, London, SE18 3QX
Description
Former Bristol City goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay has been jailed after being convicted of rape.
Sesay was a very talented footballer who had achieved his dream to make it as a professional, Bristol Crown Court heard.
But a jury heard how he subjected a woman to a serious sexual assault in the female toilet of a nightclub in Bristol.
And, after being arrested and released under police investigation, he targeted a second woman in the female toilet of a nightclub in London.
The 22-year-old, of Barnfield Gardens in London, denied wrongdoing.
But after a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court a jury convicted him of attempted rape of the woman in Bristol, and the attempted rape and rape of the woman in London.
Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for ten years.
He told Sesay: "In some ways you are a brazen sexual predator.
"To that extent you are dangerous.
"There's a risk, if you are released today, of you acting in a similar way.
"But you are not going to be released today.
"You are not going to be released for many years."
The judge ordered Sesay to notify his whereabouts to police for life.
He was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.
James Tucker, prosecuting, said Sesay groped a woman's private parts in the female toilets of a Bristol nightclub in 2019.
Having been arrested, interviewed and released, he went on to attempt to rape, and orally rape, a woman in a London nightclub last year.
The first complainant said it felt like she left her own body when Sesay abused her, and she had suffered significant trauma as a result.
In an impact statement she said: "I am left in a constant state of hyper-vigilance.
"I see the worst of people when I used to see the best."
The second complainant stated she suffered an anxiety disorder before Sesay abused her which was made worse by his abuse of her.
She stated: " I look at men differently now.
"I wonder if they are dodgy and what they are capable of?
"Anything can happen, anywhere."
Sophie Shotton, defending, said: "This is a young man whose career is now in tatters.
"Football has been all he's known from a very young age.
"It was the only career choice because of his limited education.
"He came to the UK with the intention of furthering his education and furthering his career in football and the intention of making his mother proud and supporting her financially."
DC Toby Hayes of Bristol CID, said: “Alhaji Sesay is a predatory sexual offender who would brazenly target women at random at nightclubs.
“CCTV footage gathered during the police investigations showed him going into female toilets, where he carried out his attacks.
“The victims have all been through a harrowing experience. I want to pay tribute to their incredible bravery and courage for reporting the offences committed against them, for giving crucial evidence in court and for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in this dangerous sexual offender being brought to justice.
"I would also like to thank the many members of the public who assisted with our enquiries and helped to ensure justice was served.
“Due to the nature of Sesay’s offending, it’s possible there are other victims out there who haven’t yet reported incidents to us.
"I would encourage them to place their faith and confidence in the police and come forward. You will be listened to, believed and respected. If you don’t want to speak to the police, please speak to someone.”