LEVI SERIKI-WALTERS SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN GOSPORT

Levi Seriki-Walters, a 35-year-old man with no fixed address, was formally sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on May 10 following a conviction related to a serious sexual assault incident in Gosport.

The case centered around an incident that occurred in the early hours of August 27, 2020, near the commercial car park close to The Anchorage. Authorities responded to reports from witnesses who heard a woman crying out for help during the early morning hours, approximately at 1.40am. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers located a woman in her twenties who appeared visibly distressed. She was encouraged to share her account with the officers, which she did with apparent fear and trauma.

The woman explained that she had been physically assaulted and subsequently raped by a man she knew. This disturbing account prompted immediate police action, and Seriki-Walters was swiftly arrested and charged with the offence of rape. The investigation revealed CCTV footage capturing Seriki-Walters pursuing the victim from the scene, providing visual evidence that supported her account. Forensic examinations further confirmed that the man had committed the sexual assault.

Despite the mounting evidence, Seriki-Walters maintained his innocence during the trial held in April this year. However, after approximately two and a half hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday, April 12, confirming his involvement in the crime.

Commenting on the case, Detective Constable Jasmin Curson, part of the Operation Amberstone team responsible for the investigation, expressed her appreciation for the victim’s courage. She stated, “I want to commend the bravery of this woman for telling officers what had happened to her, and for working with police throughout the investigation and trial period. She experienced something terrible that no person should ever have to experience.”

DC Curson emphasized the importance of supporting victims of sexual crimes, adding, “The man responsible has now rightly been brought to justice and is behind bars where he cannot harm another person in this way. We take allegations of sexual offences incredibly seriously, and do everything in our power to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. We also work closely with a number of support agencies who provide specialist help to those who need it.”

Law enforcement urges anyone affected by such crimes to come forward. They can contact police on 101 to speak with a specially trained officer confidentially. Recognizing that not everyone may feel comfortable reporting directly to police, the authorities recommend reaching out to independent support agencies for assistance. Details on reporting sexual assault and accessing support services are available at hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault.