A sex offender from maldon who denied falsely imprisoning a girl and assaulting another has been jailed for three years.

The sentencing was the culmination of an investigation by Essex Police's Domestic Abuse Investigation Team that began on 29 January, after they received a report that a teenage girl had been falsely imprisoned at an address in north Essex. 

Mamumroshid Miah was arrested on 1 February but denied the allegations throughout interview.

The registered sex offender was remanded into custody and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court the following day where he pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on two occasions - 16 December 2023 and 28 January.

The 34-year-old of Cross Road, Maldon, denied three further charges and elected to stand trial for false imprisonment and two counts of common assault against a second teenage girl on separate occasions in 2023.

During a week-long trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, the jury heard how Miah had prevented the girl from leaving the address and had confiscated her phone, so she had no contact with family or friends. She was only able to leave the next morning with his permission.

At the conclusion of the trial last week he was convicted of the three charges was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment for all five offences.

• False imprisonment: 20 months imprisonment
• SHPO breach: 16 months consecutive
• SHPO breach: 16 months concurrent
• Common assault: 1 week concurrent
• Common assault: 1 week concurrent

Investigating officer PC Kirstie Parker said: "Miah's coercive behaviour left his victim feeling that she had no control and made her feel isolated and scared. But she has stood up to him and exerted her independence by seeing him stand trial for his unacceptable behaviour towards her and I would commend her taking a strong stand against such behaviour.

"This case highlights the work of our specialist officers and their commitment to tackle violence against women and girls.

"Our Domestic Abuse Investigation Team work hard to protect and support victims and try to prevent abuse taking place by identifying those people who pose the greatest danger so we can step in at an earlier stage and protect people.!