Man given community order following sexual assault in Redditch

A Redditch man has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 and given a community order after pleading guilty to a sexual assault.

Eden Taylor, of Arley Close, Redditch was charged with a sexual offence that happened on Sunday 21 August at around 7.50am in Arrow Valley Country Park, Redditch.

The 22-year-old approached a woman in the park and engaged her in conversation, before sexually assaulting her. The victim reported the incident to the police and Taylor was arrested shortly afterwards.

Taylor appeared at Redditch Magistrates Court on Monday (10 October), where he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. He was given a community order, which requires supervised probation, five years on the sexual offences register and a three year prevention order from entering the Arrow Valley Country Park.

Taylor was also ordered to pay a total of £1,099 in court fees and is expected to attended a sexual offenders group work programme.

Inspector Richard Field from the Redditch & Bromsgrove Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This was a truly horrifying experience for the victim, who has been incredibly brave in coming forward to the police and helping us with our investigation, which has led to a successful conviction.

“Violence against women and girls will never be acceptable in our community and we will continue to take positive action to seek justice for victims of sexual offences. I would like to thank the police officers who attended, investigated and the supported this investigation and the victim, and whose quick thinking on the day helped lead to this positive outcome.

“Offences like this are very rare and I would like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident.”

Anyone with any concerns about a sexual crime can report it by visiting https://www.westmercia.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/ or calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

You can also get help from the West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre. Visit wmrsasc.org.uk or call 03456 461188.