Sex offender who targeted students wearing mask jailed for 21 years

A registered sex offender has been jailed for 21 years after attacking young women at the end of last year.

Elvis Sidaway, from Fountain Road, Edgbaston, preyed on lone young women, often wearing what was described as a gorilla or ‘Yoda’ mask.

Each time the victim reported that they were grabbed and threatened, sometimes with a knife or another type of weapon.

When he was arrested police found condoms and a black firelighter in his car. At his address, officers found a craft knife, black gloves and another firelighter.

The 53-year-old paint mixer was charged with five counts of sexual assault by touching, for which he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. He pleaded not guilty to rape and three counts of possession of a knife for which he stood trial earlier this week.

The jury took just two and a half hours to find him guilty of all charges and he was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court today (Friday 14 July). He will also stay on the Sex Offender Register for life.