Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez, a 40-year-old cyclist, has been jailed for 19 months and banned from riding a bicycle after sexually assaulting five women across south-east London in a series of attacks described initially as ‘pranks.’
The Colombian national used his bicycle to silently approach lone women, groping them before quickly cycling away. These incidents occurred between July 3 and July 24, 2023, in areas including Greenwich, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Charlton, and Surrey Quays.
Prosecutors detailed Cortes-Pinerez’s method as a calculated and disturbing pattern: he would quietly approach his victims on his bike, grab their buttocks firmly without warning, and then speed off before being identified. One victim suffered a panic attack, while another was injured while attempting to photograph him as he fled.
Cortes-Pinerez resides on Mitcham Lane, Streatham. Although he initially referred to his assaults as ‘pranks,’ he later pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault. Despite having no prior criminal record in the UK, his presence in the country since 2022 has raised concerns.
At Woolwich Crown Court on April 17, Recorder Martin Goudie KC condemned Cortes-Pinerez’s actions and imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from cycling indefinitely. The judge stated, “Central to the offending is the defendant’s use of his bicycle to get close to the victims quickly, quietly and unseen, and then to be able to escape quickly. I’m satisfied based on the seriousness of the offences that the defendant poses a risk of sexual harm to the public.”
Cortes-Pinerez has already served time since his arrest on July 30, 2023, but is expected to be released soon due to time served.
The sentence has been welcomed by women’s rights groups and community organisations concerned about safety in London’s public spaces. They emphasised that sexual assaults, even those dismissed as ‘jokes’ or ‘pranks,’ must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
If you have experienced harassment or assault, you are encouraged to contact the police or seek support from organisations such as Victim Support or Rape Crisis England & Wales.
Originally published by UKNIP.
