SHAID AKHTAR AND SHOCKING SEXUAL OFFENCES IN LONDON
A man named Shaid Akhtar, aged 42, has been linked to a disturbing series of sexual assaults targeting women across various locations in London, including public transport systems and parks.Despite his admission to numerous charges, Akhtar has narrowly avoided serving a traditional prison sentence, instead receiving a suspended sentence that allows him to serve his punishment outside of custody under strict conditions.
Over a period spanning from June to July of the previous year, Akhtar engaged in at least 11 separate incidents where he sexually assaulted women.
The assaults often involved him placing his hand on victims’ thighs—a gesture that escalated in some cases to the grabbing of their breasts.
These offenses predominantly occurred during late-night hours when the women involved were most likely alone, highlighting a concerning pattern of targeting vulnerable individuals in secluded settings.
A judge who presided over the case, Vanessa Baraitser, expressed her distaste for Akhtar’s repeated actions, emphasizing the predatory nature of his behavior.
She noted that Akhtar chose locations where women were likely to be solitary, underscoring a possible element of predatory planning.
The judge pointed out that Akhtar’s actions appeared to have a sinister undertone, given the frequency and timing of these incidents within such a short span of time.
She also acknowledged that Akhtar has underlying health considerations, as he has been diagnosed with autism.
Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that Akhtar had spent the previous six months incarcerated—an imprisonment that, in her view, might serve as a form of rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, his latest assaults occurred shortly after he appeared before courts on charges related to the earlier incidents, leading to his remand into custody for the new offences.
Detailed evidence presented during the trial highlighted the extent of Akhtar’s offending.
On June 27 last year, he committed multiple sexual assaults on the London Underground between 8.30 pm and 10.50 pm.
Witnesses testified that Akhtar sat next to women, placing his hand on their thighs and, in some cases, grabbing them.
One victim reported being followed closely when she attempted to distance herself from him.
Further incidents took place in July.
On the 8th, Akhtar approached a woman sunbathing in Mountsfield Park near Hither Green, placing his hand on her thigh.
Just a few days later, on July 11, he was arrested and brought before magistrates charged with the prior offences.
Despite being released on bail, Akhtar returned to his predatory behavior just two days later, assaulting women on National Rail trains and in a café situated within Mountsfield Park.
Between July 13 and July 15, six women fell victim to his advances.
Two of these assaults occurred during the evening hours of July 13, between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm, while three more happened the following day between 4.30 pm and 11 pm.
One of the victims, who provided a victim impact statement during the trial, expressed the trauma caused by the assault, describing how it left her feeling the need to remain hyper-vigilant when out in public.
She recounted being attacked in broad daylight at a train station while out to pick up her daughter.
The attacks culminated early on July 15, shortly after midnight, when Akhtar sexually assaulted an unidentified woman.
This incident was reported by a witness who saw Akhtar placing his hands on her body and grabbing her breasts.
Later that morning, around 11 am, Akhtar approached another woman at a park café in Hither Green, this time touching her breasts and making an inappropriate proposition, asking, “You are beautiful, would you like to come home with me?” When police arrested Akhtar on July 20, they discovered that he possessed a small amount of cannabis.
He admitted to ten counts of sexual assault and possession of a controlled substance, and he was found guilty on the sexual assault charge.
However, he was handed a 13-month suspended sentence, which will be in effect for two years.
Additionally, Akhtar was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at restricting his future conduct.
The authorities, including British Transport Police, expressed their concern regarding Akhtar’s misconduct.
PC Matthew Smart described him as a “predatory individual who clearly targeted lone women for his own sexual gratification.” He emphasized that Akhtar failed to grasp the seriousness of his actions and commended the victims for coming forward, which enabled law enforcement to apprehend him and remove him from the transport network.
PC Smart reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that women and girls can travel safely and urged anyone witnessing or experiencing similar offences to report them, whether via text or emergency services.
