OMARI SCOTT JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN ILKESTON AND HEANOR

A man identified as Omari Scott has been sentenced to prison following his involvement in two separate sexual assault incidents targeting teenage girls in the Derbyshire area. The first assault occurred on 13 December 2023 when Scott followed a young girl along a bridleway off Old Coppice Side in Heanor. According to reports, he physically grabbed her, forcefully threw her to the ground, and then sexually assaulted her while she was vulnerable. After the attack, Scott fled the scene, leaving the victim distressed and in shock.

The young girl immediately contacted the police, and officers responded promptly to her report. During their investigation, she was able to identify Scott, who was then located and arrested. He was subsequently released on bail under strict conditions that prohibited him from entering Derbyshire. However, Scott failed to respond to his bail conditions by not appearing in court on 13 March 2024.

Less than two weeks later, on 26 March, Scott committed a second assault, this time in Ilkeston. The victim, a teenage girl walking to school, was approached by a man on a pathway leading onto Manners Avenue. The attacker embraced her, sexually assaulted her, and then exposed himself before walking away from the scene. The second victim’s account, along with a media appeal that included a CCTV image of Scott, led to his identification as the perpetrator.

On 4 April, officers from West Midlands Police arrested Scott, who was then 33 years old. Forensic analysis confirmed that DNA recovered from the clothing of the first victim matched Scott’s DNA profile. This evidence, combined with witness statements and other investigative findings, resulted in Scott being formally charged with sexual assault by touching in relation to both victims.

Scott, who has previously been held at HMP Nottingham and was formerly from Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, denied the charges related to the December assault. However, after a trial at Derby Crown Court in October 2024, he was found guilty of the offence. In December 2024, he also admitted to the second assault.

On 14 February, Scott appeared before Derby Crown Court for sentencing. The court sentenced him to four years and nine months in prison. Additionally, he was issued a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having any contact with girls under the age of 18. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Detective Constable Ryan Banner, who led the investigation, expressed his thoughts on the case, stating, “These incidents will have understandably had a long-lasting impact on these two teenage girls who were simply going about their business when Scott attacked them. Their courage in coming forward to report these incidents must be commended, as well as their support throughout the investigation which has helped bring Scott to justice and ensure he is behind bars. I hope this sentence will allow them the opportunity to look towards the future and also shows that we take incidents of this nature seriously and will do all we can to ensure perpetrators such as Scott are made to pay for their crimes.”

He also extended gratitude to the various police units involved, including teams from Amber Valley and Erewash, as well as the north and south CID teams, emphasizing the importance of their work in apprehending Scott and removing a dangerous sexual predator from the streets.