Hospital orders for man who attacked lone women

One woman was attacked as she was about to enter St Mary's Church

A man who carried out "terrifying, random assaults" on lone women has been sentenced to a hospital detention.

The victims were attacked in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in September and October 2022.

Kieron Sewah, 32, of May Place, fractured the skull of a 76-year-old dog walker and held a 52-year-old woman at knifepoint, prosecutors said.

He was previously convicted at Winchester Crown Court of causing grievous and actual bodily harm, assault by beating and possession of a blade.

Sewah attacked women "seemingly without motive" before "casually walking away", prosecutors said.

The first incident took place shortly before midday on 21 September in Silvester Close.

Sewah held a knife to a 52-year-old woman who managed to flee in her car, prosecutors said.

On 2 October, he attacked a 57-year-old woman who was about to enter St Mary's Church.

She suffered a blow to the head causing cuts and swelling, according to prosecutors.

On 12 October, a 76-year-old woman was walking her dog late at night in Eastrop Lane.

She was struck from behind with a heavy blow to the head, suffering a severely fractured skull, the Crown Prosecution Service added.

Sewah was put on trial for a second time after an initial jury was unable to reach verdicts on the 21 September and 12 October attacks.

A judge gave hospital orders for each offence with no specified duration.

The defendant is detained at Ravenswood House Hospital, which caters for adults with serious mental illness.