Terror campaign of sex attack student

Saturday, June 13, 2009, 09:20

SEX offender Achala Dadallage groped female students walking back to their university digs in the early hours of the morning.

The 27-year-old Sri Lankan struck three times at Keele University campus between November and January, grabbing his victims' breasts from behind.

Dadallage, of Keele Road, Newcastle, also followed two girls round a church in Newcastle on December 23 before groping a 17-year-old's breasts on the stairway to a car park.

The defendant, who was studying for an MA in law at Keele University, pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault. He was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard the first attack took place at 12.20am on November 1 at Keele University campus.

Dadallage wore a 'Joker' mask and targeted an 18-year-old girl walking home with her friend after a night out drinking.

Robert Price, prosecuting, said: "He put both hands down her top and squeezed causing physical pain. The defendant then started laughing."

Dressed all in black on January 24, Dadallage groped a 19-year-old girl walking away from Keele University Union at 12.30am.

After she ran off, Dadallage targeted a second, 24-year-old girl heading home from the union bar about 45 minutes later.

Police officers picked him up driving away from the campus.

Anis Ali, defending, said: "There is no rational explanation or reasoning except that he was deeply under the influence of excessive alcohol consumption and emotionally unstable.

"This has been a devastating experience for him and his family. He is faced with losing everything and has brought embarrassment and shame to his family in Sri Lanka. There are reports that his wife in Sri Lanka has turned to self harm."

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones imposed a 22-month prison sentence and ordered Dadallage be automatically considered for deportation.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

The judge said: "Before this incident you had a lot to be pleased and proud about, but all that has been thrown away."

Sean Flaherty, Chief Immigration Officer at the UK Border Agency, Stoke, said: "This individual made repeated attempts to evade prosecution and it is down to the collaboration between the CID at Newcastle and the UK Border Agency in Staffordshire that a serious sexual offender has been brought to justice."

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