CHINWEM NWACHUKU SENTENCED IN SOUTHAMPTON FOR STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
A Boots shop assistant, Bethany Funnell, repeatedly asked Chinwem Nwachuku to leave her alone, but he continued to visit her store on Above Bar Street.During these visits, he made inappropriate comments about her appearance, causing her significant discomfort.
Prosecutor Richard Martin explained that Nwachuku was asked several times to leave the store despite being banned.
Southampton Crown Court heard that Nwachuku looked Miss Funnell up and down and said to her, “you know you’re my type.” Mr.
Martin noted that the incident left Miss Funnell feeling scared to walk alone through Southampton.
In her victim personal statement from October this year, Miss Funnell stated, “When this man started stalking me, I said that I was ‘concerned for my welfare as I do not know where his boundaries lie,’ I can tell you today that I am no longer concerned for my welfare, I am terrified.” She further explained, “I should be able to go about my day-to-day life without calling my mum in hysterics because I’m scared...
without my dad telling me I need to leave my place of employment, as I am no longer safe there...
without my partner having to listen to my worries.” In a separate incident, involving another victim, Nwachuku entered a store at Westquay—where he was also banned—and approached an assistant.
After asking for her name and number, he touched her hair and commented, “you’re nice” and “you have a nice shape to you.” Nwachuku appeared before Southampton Crown Court and was charged with sexual assault and stalking causing fear, alarm, or distress.
He was found guilty of stalking but admitted to the sexual assault charge.
The 40-year-old, who had been living with his brother in Southampton during summer last year, now resides with his mother on Vale Road in Finsbury Park, London.
Defence lawyer David Kemeny argued that a custodial sentence would be best served by his client learning respectful ways to communicate with women and others.
Judge Nicholas Rowland sentenced Nwachuku to ten months in prison, suspended for two years.
He also ordered Nwachuku to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend 31 sessions of the Horizon programme, and participate in ten days of rehabilitation activities.
Additionally, a restraining order was put in place, preventing him from contacting his victims.
