A man has been sentenced after he was caught by police just moments after he had sexually assaulted a woman outside a nightclub.

Tawanda Madziwa, 35, groped the woman after being ejected from a nightclub in Broadway, Peterborough, in the early hours of August 6 last year.

Officers carrying out proactive patrols as part of an operation to tackle street violence and harassment in Peterborough and Cambridge city centres saw Madziwa acting erratically.

He was arrested temporarily for breach of the peace, but officers then spoke to people in the area who reported the sexual assault.

Madziwa, of Brookfurlong, Peterborough, was further arrested for sexual assault and assaulting an emergency worker after punching the arresting officer to the head.

He pleaded guilty to both crimes at Peterborough Magistrates Court on January 12 and then on February 22, he was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work, a six-month alcohol treatment order, 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement, ordered to pay £200 in compensation to both of the victims and placed on the Sex Offenders register for five years.

The victim, a woman in her twenties who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “This incident has left me no longer wanting to go out into the city centre at night.

"It has caused me to feel uncomfortable when I see men if I am out on my own. I do not believe that anyone should be subjected to the behaviour that I was subjected to on that occasion.

“The actions of one person have made me feel that I can no longer go out and enjoy myself.”

PC Jason Waite said: “Patrols like this are invaluable during the busy periods for the night-time economy in our cities.

“Without those officers on the ground, it would have been much harder to find and arrest Madziwa.”

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a priority for the force and these patrols are just one way we are tackling it. You can find out more on our dedicated page.