A MAN who attacked lone women in Basingstoke in ‘terrifying, random assaults’ has been sentenced to a hospital detention.
Kieron Sewah, 32, of May Place, Basingstoke attacked a 76-year-old dog walker in Basingstoke late at night on October 12, hitting her with what was thought to be a bladed object in Eastrop Lane, near the town centre, before 'casually walking away', prosecutors said.
The victim, who was struck from behind with a heavy blow to the head, suffered a severely fractured skill, prosecutors said.
His first victim, a 52-year-old woman, was held at knifepoint in Silvester Close, South View on September 21, 2022, as she got out of her car.
The knife touched her forearm, but she was able to get back in her car and drive away uninjured, the court heard.
On 2 October, a 57-year-old woman was walking alone to St Mary’s Church in Goat Lane, near the town centre, when she was attacked without warning from behind with a blow to the right side of her head.
The woman sustained cuts and swelling to her head and neck area.
Sewah was found guilty on November 9, 2023 of grievous and actual bodily harm, assault by beating and possession of a bladed article following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.
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The court heard that Sewah attacked lone women he did not know before fleeing the scene.
The attacks were carried out seemingly without motive, prosecutors said.
Sewah, who denied all offences, was previously found guilty of only one of the attacks after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other two cases.
However, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors successfully retried Sewah and he was convicted on all counts on November 9 at Winchester Crown Court.
He denied any involvement in the attacks, however, the CPS proved that he was the person behind each assault in court, working with the police to piece together witness identification of Sewah and extensive CCTV evidence.
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Daniel Marsh, senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, previously described Sewah as “a dangerous individual who inflicted terrifying, random violence against lone women in the street”.
He added: “Having initially only secured one conviction, the CPS was determined that each of Sewah’s victims saw justice and after a complex retrial we have secured convictions for every one of these attacks.
“No woman should ever have to endure such a horrifying ordeal."
Sewah was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, June 7 to a Section 37 Hospital order with a Section 41 restriction on all counts. The court also ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of weapons.
The defendant is understood to be detained at Ravenswood House Hospital, for adults with serious mental illness.
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