SAMUEL STOICA FROM BARKING SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGER IN DAGENHAM BUS

A man responsible for a disturbing sexual assault on a teenage girl aboard a bus in Dagenham has been officially sentenced to prison. Samuel Stoica, aged 23 and residing on Ripple Road in Barking, appeared before Snaresbrook Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the charges on Friday, 19 July. The court handed down a sentence of 16 months behind bars, and upon completion of his term, he will be deported back to Romania. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years.

Details of the incident reveal that on the 24th of May, Stoica boarded a bus designated as route 173 in Dagenham. He proceeded to the upper deck of the vehicle, where he initiated a conversation with a 17-year-old girl. The situation quickly escalated into a serious assault, with Stoica engaging in inappropriate and criminal behavior. He forcibly kissed the young woman, grabbed her around the throat, and forcibly placed his hand on her body. The assault was further compounded by his act of exposing his penis, adding a layer of sexual misconduct to the attack.

Following the incident, authorities utilized CCTV footage captured on the bus to identify Stoica as the suspect. His identification led to a swift arrest, and subsequent investigations confirmed his involvement in the assault. The case was brought to court, where the severity of the crime was acknowledged.

DC Teresa Moore, a representative from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, commented on the case, stating, “This was a particularly nasty assault on a young woman, who was going about her business on the bus network. The suspect used force against a teenager alone on a bus. The sentence sends out a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”