EYAKENO NYONG SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE IN SOUTHAMPTON
A young girl was left feeling emotionless and emotionally numb after enduring sexual abuse by an older man, a court was told.Eyakeno Nyong, a 38-year-old resident of Wolseley Road in Southampton, was found guilty of multiple sexual assault charges following a trial held earlier this year in July at Southampton Crown Court.
On Tuesday, he appeared before the judges once again to be sentenced for these offenses.
The court heard that the sexual offenses took place roughly ten years ago, at a residential address within Southampton.
These acts involved Nyong repeatedly touching the underage girl — who was under 13 years old at the time — on several occasions over the span of a year.
The gravity of these crimes was highlighted through a strong impact statement submitted by the victim, which painted a picture of ongoing emotional distress.
Her statement described how the experience had left her feeling violated, disgusted, and overwhelmed with anxiety.
She expressed her deep fears about her safety, both inside her home and outside in the wider community.
The victim described her difficulty trusting others now, her increased vigilance around her relatives and friends, and how her overall well-being had been severely affected, impacting all areas of her life.
In delivering his sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland acknowledged the seriousness of the offenses.
He noted that Nyong had been convicted of two counts of sexual assault after a jury found him guilty, and that these crimes had taken place over a decade ago, suggesting a pattern of misconduct that spanned many years.
During the proceedings, the prosecution's representative, Edward Warren, emphasized the profound and lasting impact on the victim, emphasizing her feelings of violation and her struggle to rebuild trust.
The defendant’s defense attorney, David Richards, sought to portray Nyong as a supportive family man who had maintained a clean record since the offenses occurred.
Mr.
Richards argued that Nyong had shown no signs of repeating these behaviors in recent years and expressed hope for his rehabilitation, claiming that he was a candidate for turning over a new leaf if given the opportunity.
Ultimately, Judge Nicholas Rowland sentenced Nyong to 15 months in prison.
Despite the relatively short custodial term, the judge decided against imposing a sexual harm prevention order, citing Nyong’s lack of previous or subsequent convictions as a reason.
While such orders are typically used to prevent offenders from engaging in certain activities that could pose a risk, the judge did not view one as necessary in this case.
Furthermore, Nyong was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and was explicitly barred from working in any capacity that involves contact with children.
Throughout the proceedings, the court staff and public gallery sat with dignity, acknowledging the challenging circumstances under which the victim had to relive her trauma.
The court’s actions underscored the seriousness of the offense and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from similar harm in the future.
