ARTHUR ROSIGI FROM STOKE NEWINGTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AT FINSBURY PARK IN LONDON

In a case that has shocked the local community, Arthur Rosigi, a 46-year-old park attendant from Stoke Newington, was sentenced at the Old Bailey for a series of disturbing sexual assaults involving a teenage girl at Finsbury Park in London. The incident, which took place on July 26 of the previous year, involved Rosigi abusing his position of trust while working as a track receptionist for Haringey Council, which manages the park facilities.

During the court proceedings held on a recent Friday, Judge John Milford QC explained that he was unable to impose a custodial sentence on Rosigi because the court deemed the severity of the offences to be insufficient for jail time. Nonetheless, the judge made it clear that Rosigi’s actions were deeply inappropriate and harmful, especially considering his role as a guardian of the park’s visitors. The judge emphasized that Rosigi, who is a father of two daughters, exploited his position to target a 16-year-old girl, who was at the time a promising athlete training at the Finsbury Park Track and Gym.

The court heard that Rosigi attempted to kiss the teenager and tried to pull down her shorts while she was working at the park. He also made inappropriate physical advances, including touching her breast and locking her in his office, before offering her oral sex. These offences occurred in quick succession, and despite her clear rejection, Rosigi persisted in his misconduct when she returned to the track after her training session.

Judge Milford pointed out that Rosigi’s refusal to admit guilt had caused the young victim to relive her traumatic experience in court, which he said had significantly worsened the harm inflicted upon her. The court also noted that Rosigi’s actions demonstrated a troubling pattern of attraction to much younger women and a failure to accept responsibility for his misconduct.

In response to the Crown’s recommendation, the judge issued a court order prohibiting Rosigi from working in any capacity where he would have unsupervised contact with girls aged 11 to 17. This includes restrictions on his presence at the Finsbury Park Track, as well as any sporting or recreational facilities with changing rooms used by girls in that age group. Additionally, Rosigi is required to complete a sexual offenders course and perform 200 hours of community service.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. However, the court was unable to impose a financial compensation order, citing Rosigi’s financial difficulties, as he is currently unemployed, has lost both of his jobs, and faces the risk of losing his home. The victim, whose identity remains protected by law, retains the right to pursue civil proceedings against him.

Rosigi, who resides on Somerford Grove Estate in Stoke Newington, also worked at the White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre. His defence lawyer, Ramiz Gursoy, highlighted that Rosigi had no prior convictions, had lost his employment, and was not receiving benefits. Gursoy argued that Rosigi, who has been in the UK for 20 years, is a hardworking individual who has learned his lesson and poses a low risk of reoffending.

Following the verdict, Rosigi was convicted by a unanimous jury of two counts of sexual assault and was found guilty of a third by a majority of 10 to 2 on January 28. As he was led away from the court, Judge Milford expressed his sympathies to the victim, praising her for her eloquent impact statement. The judge also expressed hope that she would be able to move past this distressing experience and find success in her athletic pursuits, including her training at Finsbury Park.