A former Bristol City footballer has been jailed for rape and attempted rape after separate attacks on two women.
Alhaji Sesay, 22, was handed a 10-year prison term after he was found guilty of the attempted rape of a woman in a Bristol nightclub and the rape and attempted rape of a woman in a north London bar.
During a four-week trial, Bristol Crown Court heard how in the first incident Sesay, who also played for the Sierra Leone national team, entered the female toilet of a nightclub in Bristol city centre on 11 July 2019.
Once inside the toilets, he approached a woman who was entirely unknown to him, pushed her against the wall and sexually assaulted her through her clothing and attempted to force her to commit a sex act on him.
The victim managed to break free and raise the alarm with her friends and door staff, who detained Sesay until police officers arrived.
He was arrested and during interview denied the allegation, claiming that he had entered the female toilets looking for a woman he had kissed earlier in the night but had not assaulted anyone.
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He was subsequently released under investigation pending further inquiries.
On 30 August 2020, police were called to a bar in Southgate, north London, where a woman who had been in the toilets had been pushed into a cubicle by a man she did not know who attempted to rape her.
When the attempt at rape was unsuccessful, the man then forced the woman to perform a sex act on him.
Sesay fled the venue in a vehicle following the attack but later returned after he was encouraged to by his friends. He was arrested at the scene.
In police interview on this occasion, Sesay claimed the victim had consented to sex.
He was remained in custody and charged with attempted rape in connection with the Bristol incident and attempted rape and rape in connection with the London offences.
Despite pleading not guilty to all counts, a jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to four years for the attempted rape in Bristol, six years for the attempted rape in London and six years for the rape in London. The London sentences will run concurrently.
As part of the same trial, Sesay, of Greenwich, southeast London, was found not guilty of one count of rape in relation to a separate incident in Bristol dealt with by Avon and Somerset Police.
At his sentencing on Wednesday, His Honour Judge Cullum told Sesay he was a rapist and a sexual predator who 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 of them suffering severe psychological harm.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Toby Hayes, of Bristol Criminal Investigation Department (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.
“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.”
Detective Constable Kim Davies, who led the investigation from the Metropolitan Police’s Public Protection Team, added: “He has on two separate occasions subjected women to violent acts in what should be a safe and private space.
“He has shown no remorse for his deplorable behaviour and the verdict is welcomed as it highlights that there is a price to be paid by those committing sexual offences, and that price is their freedom.
“The impact that crimes like this case have on the victims is significant, so I would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation which has resulted in taking a dangerous individual off the street.”
If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS. Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and the The Survivors’ Trust supports people of any gender.
