MAN JAILED FOR STRANGER SEXUAL ASSAULT
A man received a three-year prison sentence after committing a terrifying sexual assault against a teenage girl in a Launceston alleyway.Yordan Stanchev, 26, a Bulgarian national without a fixed address, appeared at Truro Crown Court on April 2 to be sentenced after admitting guilt to sexual assault charges.
He is expected to be deported after serving his sentence and will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
A restraining order was granted to ensure the victim, aged 17, was protected.
The court was informed that the incident occurred around 9:15 pm on Sunday, 25 January, in a small alley near Launceston College.
On that evening, the girl, who did not know Stanchev, noticed him following her as she walked.
When he ran toward her, she screamed and tried to escape.
Nevertheless, Stanchev caught her, pushed her against a metal fence, and sexually assaulted her.
The victim, despite her fear, resisted and injured his face during the struggle.
He was possibly startled by a dog walker nearby, which led him to flee.
The girl then managed to run away to safety.
Police were contacted by a relative of the victim immediately after the attack, leading officers to search the surrounding area.
The victim's description helped locate Stanchev, especially after it emerged that he had called police earlier, claiming he had been attacked outside a Lidl shop.
When found, Stanchev bore a facial injury to match the victim’s account.
He was swiftly arrested, and investigators confirmed his phone was in the area at that time.
The victim identified him positively, resulting in his arrest, formal charges, and being remanded in custody for trial.
