Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years for Sexual Assault of Teenage Girl

Andrii Melnyk, 29, of Harvard Road, Chiswick, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on January 17th for sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by touching. He will also be placed on the sexual offenders register for life.

The assault occurred on April 2nd at approximately 6:00 AM on Short Lane in Staines. Melnyk followed the victim after they both disembarked the same bus. He then grabbed her by the arm, attempted to pull down her trousers, and ultimately fell on top of her after she fell over. He proceeded to sexually assault her.

The 18-year-old victim bravely fought back, shouted for help, and sought assistance from a nearby taxi driver who promptly contacted the police. Melnyk fled the scene.

Police were able to identify Melnyk as the perpetrator through extensive investigation. They reviewed CCTV footage from the bus, matched it to the suspect description, and cross-referenced the oyster card used on the bus to identify the user. Upon searching Melnyk's home, officers discovered clothing matching those seen in the CCTV footage, including a pair of distinctive jeans with mud stains on the knees.

The victim positively identified Melnyk in an ID parade, leading to his arrest, charging, and remand into custody.

Investigating Officer DC Katherine Peters stated, "This was a complex investigation involving numerous lines of inquiry including forensics, intelligence gathering, witness testimonies, and CCTV analysis."