SRITHARAN SAYANTHAN AND HIS SHOCKING CRIMES IN LONDON
A photographer based in central London, Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.The case has raised concerns about possible additional victims, amid police investigations into his activities.
According to reports from Scotland Yard, Sayanthan was found guilty on Friday of committing two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.
The incidents occurred at his studio situated on Brompton Road in central London.
He was convicted at Hendon Crown Court and received an 11-year prison sentence for his crimes.
The primary victim, a woman in her 30s, initially visited Sayanthan's studio in May 2022 to have her photographs taken.
The woman paid for the photo session and, at first, believed the encounter was routine.
However, her interaction with Sayanthan took a disturbing turn when, on 8 July 2022, he contacted her online and invited her out for drinks.
She accepted, thinking it was a professional networking opportunity.
The two met at a pub in Warren Street, where police say Sayanthan encouraged her to consume alcohol.
Witnesses and CCTV footage indicate that he pressured her into drinking heavily, which resulted in her becoming intoxicated very quickly.
Following this, Sayanthan led her to his studio.
Once there, she reportedly blacked out on the studio floor.
When she regained consciousness, she was aware that Sayanthan was sexually assaulting her, although she was unable to respond verbally or physically due to the effects of alcohol and her unconscious state.
The victim, who is a Chinese national, reported the assault to the police on 31 July 2022.
Officers noted that she did not report the incident earlier because she was unfamiliar with how rape investigations are conducted in the UK.
As part of their investigation, police examined CCTV footage which showed her appearing noticeably unsteady on her feet at the scene.
Further investigations revealed that Sayanthan owned several photography businesses, and testimonies from studio staff contributed to the case.
Police, led by Detective Constable Sophie Baker, emphasized the possibility of other victims who may have been targeted by Sayanthan.
Officers are actively encouraging anyone with information or who may have been harmed to come forward without hesitation.
DC Baker also praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward.
Despite her initial nervousness and the challenges of giving evidence, she demonstrated remarkable courage.
With the assistance of an interpreter, she provided detailed testimony about the incident in court.
Baker expressed pride in her resilience, stating, “She was extremely nervous at the prospect of giving evidence but, with the support of an interpreter, she told the court in fine detail what happened.
For victims, describing the incident in court can be daunting but she did amazingly and I am personally very proud of her bravery and thankful to her for coming forward.”
