A FORMER international footballer has been jailed after raping a woman inside a nightclub toilet cubicle.
Alhaji Sesay, 22, attacked a woman in a North London club after forcing his way into the cubicle – and he has now been jailed for ten years.
The former Sierra Leone national team player also trapped another woman in a Bristol nightclub toilet and attempted to rape her.
Sesay, who also played Bristol City, was arrested after she managed to escape his grip and raise the alarm.
And the former goalkeeper has today been given a ten-year jail term for the offences.
Sesay was convicted of one count of rape and two of attempted rape against two separate women.
The 22-year-old was also found not guilty of a second charge of rape following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
He joined the Bristol City academy in 2017 – and went on to make multiple loan moves to non-league clubs before eventually being released.
At the sentencing hearing today, His Honour Judge Cullum told Sesay he was a rapist and a "sexual predator."
FOOTIE RAPIST
He said he used "a veneer of charm and flirtatious behaviour" to put himself close to women who he perceived to be targets.
He said his actions had significantly affected both victims, with one suffering severe psychological harm.
Sesay was arrested on July 11, 2019 following an incident at Mbargo nightclub, on The Triangle, Bristol, after he trapped a woman in a toilet cubicle and attempted to rape her.
CCTV footage shows Sesay walking into the toilets in the nightclub – before turning around to look at the camera.
The victim managed to break free and get help from her friends and door staff, resulting in Sesay being detained and arrested at the scene.
At his trial, the court heard how Sesay also followed a woman into the toilets and forced his way into a cubicle at the Hart Lounge in Southgate, London – where he carried out an attack in which he committed rape and attempted rape.
Sesay, of Plumstead, London, was charged in connection with the offences in Bristol and London in August 2020.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service available. from 10am to noon.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
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."
Contact the Samaritans
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at anytime.
Or email https://www.samaritans.org/
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