Southampton Sex Attacker Jailed for Four Years

Daniel Randall-Coles, 25, of Millbrook Road West, has been sentenced to four years in prison and five years on licence after pleading guilty to 17 sexual attacks on women and girls as young as 11.

Randall-Coles admitted to riding up silently behind women on his bicycle wearing high visibility gear and groping them, grabbing their bodies in a sexual nature on many occasions by putting his hand up their coats or skirts before fleeing the scene.

The attacks, which happened over a period of two weeks in January, took place in various locations across Southampton, including near West Quay and Above Bar Street, Southampton General Hospital in Millbrook and Lordshill.

Sentencing, Judge Ralls QC said it was a "bizarre" offence and that he believed Randall-Coles was a danger to the public as the offences showed he had planned the attacks.

The court heard that Randall-Coles would often target women who were alone in public places, regularly occupied talking on the phone, listening to music or exercising. He would then cycle up behind them and grab them.

Victim statements read to the court said that many felt "violated and very scared" as well as "disgusted and ashamed." Some victims reported that Randall-Coles circled back on his bike, laughed or grinned at them, and one woman said he winked at her.

Randall-Coles was sentenced to four years in prison and five years on licence after admitting 15 counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexually assaulting girls aged under 13. He will also be registered on the Sex Offenders Lister and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period of time.