Karl Seiga, a 36-year-old man from Langdale Street in Bootle, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman and subjecting her to racial abuse. The attack, which occurred last year, left the victim with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has profoundly altered her life.
Seiga pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by penetration but was convicted following a trial in June. He also admitted to sending malicious communications. At Liverpool Crown Court on June 26, Judge Garrett Byrne handed down an extended sentence of eight years in custody plus a one-year extended licence period, totaling nine years. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting Seiga from contacting the victim.
Details of the Attack
Prosecutor David Watson described the assault, stating that Seiga grabbed the victim by the head, dragged her into a bedroom, threw her onto a bed, pinned her down, and sexually assaulted her. The victim screamed and cried throughout the ordeal, which lasted only a few seconds but was described as 'really hard and painful'.
The victim provided a statement detailing the lasting impact. She said: 'I have been diagnosed with PTSD and I struggle daily with the consequences of what he did. My anxiety is overwhelming and affects every part of my life. I no longer feel safe and comfortable around men.' She added that she suffers from frequent nightmares and often cries herself to sleep.
Victim's Statement
The victim expressed how her life had 'changed completely' since the attack. 'Before this happened I was confident, outgoing and able to enjoy life. Now I feel like a shell of my former self,' she said. She described feeling isolated and disconnected, and noted that things that once brought her joy now feel frightening and overwhelming.
The court heard that Seiga had 22 previous convictions for 32 offences, including public disorder, harassment, and racially aggravated offences. This history contributed to the judge's assessment of dangerousness.
Defence and Sentencing
Martina Snowden, defending, argued that Seiga was a 'chronic alcoholic' at the time of the offences and had since engaged with the charity Change Grow Live to address his addiction and mental health issues. She requested a determinate sentence without an extended licence period, claiming that Seiga's progress in regulating his mental health were protective factors.
However, Judge Byrne rejected this, stating he found 'no compelling mitigation'. A pre-sentence report concluded that Seiga presented a pattern of offending 'characterised by violence, control and substance misuse' and assessed him as a high risk of reoffending and a risk of serious violent offending. The judge noted that Seiga was residing at Southwood bail hostel, a facility for individuals posing a very high risk of serious harm. 'Taking into account all of that, I'm satisfied you do meet the statutory definition of dangerousness,' the judge said.
Seiga's total sentence of nine years reflects the severity of his crime and the ongoing risk he poses to the public, particularly women.
