Seven years behind bars for attempted rape and sexual assault

A Stanwell man has been sentenced to seven years in jail for attempted rape and sexual assault after preying on women in Staines town centre. 

Following an investigation by Surrey Police's Sexual Offences Investigation Team, Ratheesan Ranganathan, 32, of Clare Road, Stanwell, was sentenced on Thursday, 1 February after being found guilty at an earlier hearing at Inner London Crown Court in July, 2022, 

He was arrested on 29 April, 2022, in Staines-upon-Thames after attempting to rape a woman he had followed in the town centre. He was further arrested in connection with an earlier report of attempting to sexually assault a woman also in Staines town centre.

Detective Constable Chris Wasley, from the Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said: “Ranganathan showed a frightening escalation of sexual offences against women he had followed in the town all on the same evening. He has now been sentenced to seven years imprisonment but also with a further six years on licence when released.”

Sexual Offences Liaison Officer Roberta Jeffries said: “We commend the immense bravery and courage of the victims throughout our investigation including them being present at the sentencing to speak in court.”