A delivery driver has been jailed for three years after sexually assaulting a lone woman after she left a bar in east London.
Sobirjon Boltaev, 26, from Lawton Road in Leyton, led his victim to a wooded area where he sexually assaulted her, before she “bravely” fought him off and escaped.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how in the early hours of July 23 last year his victim, now 27, left a bar in Hackney Wick and was soon approached by Boltaev near Stratford’s Olympic Park.
“He attempted a conversation with her and then kissed her without her consent,” said a Met police spokesperson.
“He led her into a wooded area and sexually assaulted her again before she was able to fight him off and call the police.”
The Met launched an investigation, which saw police take an account from the victim, before trawling through CCTV and tracking his bicycle, as well as his recent bank transcations.
Boltaev was arrested on September 1 last year.
Officers searched his home and found clothes that matched clothing worn by the suspect on CCTV footage.
Witnesses gave statements confirming Boltaev was working as a delivery driver at the time of the sexual assault, and the Met charged him the following day.
He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a woman, at Snaresbrook Crown Court on June 24.
On Friday, he was sentenced at the same court to three years’ imprisonment for his crimes. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, and was handed a sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Inspector Jon Ford, who led the investigation, said: “We hope this sentence brings some level of justice for the victim-survivor who bravely fought the perpetrator off in what must have been an extremely frightening situation and came straight to the police.
“I would like to thank her for providing vital evidence at the start of our investigation, as well as the other witnesses who came forward.
“We are determined in our continued effort to tackle violence against women and girls which we know has a significant and lasting impact on victim-survivors.”
Find out more on how to report a rape or sexual assault here. Always call 999 in an emergency. If you’ve been a victim of rape or sexual assault, charities and support agencies can offer help and guidance:
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.
