A 50-year-old man is facing sentencing next month after being found guilty of multiple horrific sexual offences against a teenage girl on a London-bound train. Abdulmanon Aliev will be sentenced on 17 June following a brutal 16 June assault on a 13-year-old girl aboard the Southend-to-London service.
Predator Used Phone App to Target Child
The Tajikistan national first tried to strike up a conversation using a smartphone translation app while sitting opposite the victim. When she moved seats to escape, he followed her and blocked her exit by taking the window seat beside her in the aisle. British Transport Police (BTP) described the attack as a prolonged sexual assault lasting until the train reached London Fenchurch Street station.
Victim Escapes and Sparks Manhunt
On arrival, the brave teenager escaped, boarding a different train and reporting the ordeal to passersby who quickly contacted police. BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime team launched a manhunt. Aliev was caught in Peckham, south London, on 27 June, with footage showing officers pulling him from a busy street. Police later seized the clothes worn during the attack from his home.
“Aliev singled out a vulnerable child and subjected her to one of the most abhorrent sexual assaults I’ve ever investigated,” – Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill
“Focus must remain on Aliev as the despicable sexual predator he is. This verdict would not have been possible without the brave victim’s testimony,” – Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill
Justice Near for Train Passenger Victim
The victim and her family have received specialist support throughout the investigation and trial. The conviction caps a thorough BTP probe involving witness statements, CCTV, and forensic evidence linking Aliev to the crime. Aliev’s use of translation technology to lure a child shines a shocking light on how predators exploit public transport networks.
