ALEJANDRO CUENCA SHOCKS EASTBOURNE WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS AFTER POLICE ERROR

In a disturbing sequence of events that has shocked the community of Eastbourne, Sussex, Alejandro Cuenca, a 25-year-old man, was involved in two separate incidents of sexual misconduct within a span of just a few months. The first incident occurred in November 2018, when Cuenca unlawfully entered a residential property during a sleepover attended by a 13-year-old girl. According to court reports, the young victim was abruptly awakened to find Cuenca lying beside her in her bed. He was reportedly whispering explicit words, including “Sex, sex, f***, f***,” which left her terrified and distressed. The girl immediately raised the alarm, prompting Cuenca to flee the scene. The police were alerted and managed to arrest him two weeks later. However, in a controversial decision, law enforcement released Cuenca after only 24 hours in custody. Instead of detention, he was referred to psychiatric services as an outpatient, with the intention of assessing his mental health. Despite this, Cuenca was discharged from psychiatric care after just six weeks, citing his own refusal to continue with further appointments. This decision would later be scrutinized as a grave oversight.



The situation took a darker turn when, merely two months after his release, Cuenca committed another serious offense. This time, he broke into a woman’s home in Eastbourne and sexually assaulted her. The assault was carried out within her residence, causing significant alarm and concern among local residents. Cuenca’s actions prompted a court case at Lewes Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offense. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Christine Laing QC, sentenced Cuenca to an indefinite period of detention in a secure hospital, citing her belief that he met the criteria for being considered a dangerous individual.



Sussex police have publicly stated that Cuenca was not known to them prior to his arrest in June of the previous year. A police spokesperson explained that Cuenca was released under investigation into the care of health professionals on June 15. However, on September 13, he committed the assault on an adult woman, which has further intensified concerns about the adequacy of the police’s handling of his case and the apparent lapses in monitoring his behavior. The community and authorities alike are now grappling with the implications of these events, highlighting the importance of rigorous oversight and effective intervention in cases involving individuals with a history of sexual offenses.