Basingstoke man convicted of violent attacks on lone women

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

A man has been convicted of a series of violent assaults on lone women.

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.

The defendant, who was found guilty of GBH with intent and assault by beating, is due to be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 26 January.

Sewah inflicted "terrifying, random assaults... seemingly without motive" before "casually walking away", prosecutors said.

'Serious head injury'

The first attack 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 12 October, a 76-year-old woman was walking her dog late at night in Eastrop Lane when she was attacked from behind.

She was treated in hospital for a serious head injury, police said.

Previously, a jury was unable to reach verdicts on the two incidents, but convicted Sewah of attacking a third woman who was about to enter St Mary's Church on 2 October.

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

Senior Crown Prosecutor Daniel Marsh said: "Kieron Sewah is a dangerous individual who inflicted terrifying, random violence against lone women in the street.

"Having initially only secured one conviction, the CPS was determined that each of Sewah's victims saw justice and after a complex retrial we have secured convictions for every one of these attacks.

"No woman should ever have to endure such a horrifying ordeal. We hope [the] verdict provides some comfort to each of the victims."