TROY MAURICE FROM HANDSWORTH SENTENCED AFTER TERRIFYING SEXUAL OFFENSES IN WEST LONDON

Troy Maurice, a 28-year-old man hailing from the Handsworth area, has been found guilty of a series of disturbing criminal acts involving sexual misconduct and assault. The case unfolded after Maurice's heinous actions targeted an international student, leading to a harrowing 12-hour hostage situation that took place within her university halls of residence in West London.

According to court reports, Maurice tracked the victim to her accommodation and forcibly held her captive for nearly half a day. During this ordeal, he repeatedly made inappropriate physical advances, grabbing her and exposing himself in her private space. Despite her desperate attempts to de-escalate the situation, including engaging him in conversation about his personal life and even offering to read him a book, Maurice continued his aggressive behavior. The victim recounted her feelings of intense fear, stating, “I was so scared. I thought I could talk to him and distract him from the sexual things — because I knew that was his purpose.”

In a calculated move to maintain control, Maurice also deleted all messaging applications from her iPad, leaving only Gmail active. It was through this email account that she managed to alert authorities early the following morning. When police arrived at the scene, Maurice was still present, allegedly standing behind the victim and holding onto her clothing. He reportedly warned her to tell her friends she was unharmed, a tactic aimed at self-preservation and possibly to prevent further intervention.

His arrest took place later in April at the student halls in West London, bringing an end to the terrifying episode. The investigation into Maurice’s activities extended beyond this incident, as authorities linked him to another assault that occurred in March. In that case, an NHS nurse was attacked in a laundry room in West London after Maurice entered her accommodation without permission. DNA evidence collected from a milkshake bottle left at the scene established his connection to the assault. The nurse, who observed Maurice staring at her and felt his hands on her back, described the encounter as frightening and unprovoked.

Prosecutor Arizona Asante detailed the frightening and calculated nature of Maurice’s behavior, emphasizing the threat he posed to the victims. Initially, Maurice denied all charges, but the court ultimately convicted him on multiple counts, including two counts of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offense, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of false imprisonment. Last week, he was sentenced to six years in prison, with an additional three years on license following his release, ensuring he remains under supervision for a significant period.

Detective Constable Ben Salmon from the Metropolitan Police praised the bravery of the victims and expressed confidence that Maurice’s incarceration would contribute to public safety. He described Maurice’s actions as ‘cold and calculated,’ underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the importance of justice being served in this case.