Abdulmanon Aliev, a 50-year-old Tajikistan national living in Peckham, southeast London, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl on a train. The attack occurred on June 16 last year on a service from Southend to London Fenchurch Street.
Aliev initially sat opposite the victim and used a translator app to communicate with her. When she moved away, he followed and positioned himself in an aisle seat, blocking her exit. He then subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault until the train arrived at Fenchurch Street, where she escaped and boarded another train to raise the alarm.
Arrest and conviction
British Transport Police (BTP) arrested Aliev 11 days later after plain-clothes officers spotted him in Peckham. A search of his home yielded the clothes he wore during the attack. He was charged the following day. In April, he was found guilty of attempted rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and three counts of sexual assault.
On Tuesday, Inner London Crown Court sentenced Aliev to 12 years in prison, with an additional two years on licence. He will be a registered sex offender for life.
Tribute to victim
BTP Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill praised the victim: “Aliev singled out a vulnerable child and subjected her to one of the most abhorrent sexual assaults I've ever investigated. … I want to pay tribute to the brave victim who reported him to police. His conviction and 12-year jail term would not have been possible without her account.”
Cahill added: “We take every sexual offence report extremely seriously, and we'll stop at nothing to ensure vile offenders like Aliev are put behind bars where they belong.”
