A man has been sentenced after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman inside a Watford nightclub.
Prashant Ladva, 37, of Julius Caesar Way, Stanmore, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, July 7, after previously being convicted of sexual assault by touching in May this year.
The court heard how on the evening of Saturday, August 14, 2021, Ladva entered Pryzm nightclub – which has since closed – on Watford High Street and spent time dancing and drinking alone.
Later in the evening, CCTV footage showed Ladva loitering in the foyer near the cloakroom where the victim, a female in her late teens, was waiting alone for her friend to retrieve their belongings.
Ladva tried to engage the victim in conversation and complimented her appearance before carrying out the assault. The victim managed to get away and tell her friends what had happened, before they reported the incident to police.
During the hearing on Monday, Her Honour Judge Lana Wood handed Ladva a two-year community order, as well as a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
His name will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years, meaning he will have to inform police of any changes in his circumstances. Any breach of these terms is a criminal offence. In addition, he was ordered to pay a surcharge, costs and compensation to the victim.
Detective Constable Jon Holmes, from the Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said: “I want to start by publicly commending the victim in this case, who has had to wait nearly four years for her attacker to be convicted. This young woman has shown nothing but dignity and maturity beyond her years in the wake of what was an incredibly traumatic ordeal, followed by significant and frustrating delays in the justice system.
“Despite all this, she wanted her experience to be made public in the hope that other survivors of sexual assault would feel able to speak up and report what happened to them. I think this is incredibly brave. The team and I wish her all the very best, and hope she now feels able to move forward now she has closure.”
DC Holmes added: “I would encourage anyone who is a victim of crime, particularly any sexual crime, to come forward and talk with one of Hertfordshire’s specially trained officers. We will always listen to you, provide you with support and do our very best to help. You won’t be told to do anything you are not ready for and your views, wishes and concerns will always be at the heart of our investigations.”
Following the sentencing, the victim shared the following statement: “Not only was coming forward about this important for my own closure, but I also wanted to show that speaking up can have a positive outcome for female victims of assault. Not only does it help you personally, but it helps protect other women. I want to thank Herts Police and DC Jon Holmes for how incredibly supportive and helpful they were throughout the entire process.”
If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, there is support available. Find out more on the Herts Police website.
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