Key Points:
- Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez, 40, jailed for 19 months at Woolwich Crown Court
- Assaulted five women across Greenwich, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Charlton, and Surrey Quays
- Offended by approaching women on a bicycle, grabbing their bottoms, and fleeing
- Claimed incidents were “pranks” but later pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault
- One victim was injured trying to photograph him; another suffered a panic attack
- Cortes-Pinerez banned from riding a bicycle under a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order
- Recorder Martin Goudie KC cited risk of sexual harm to the public
- Cortes-Pinerez likely to be released soon due to time spent on remand
- Limited information available about Cortes-Pinerez, a Colombian national
A cyclist who sexually assaulted five lone women in a series of attacks across south-east London has been jailed for 19 months and banned from cycling.
Who is Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez and what crimes did he commit?
Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez, 40, targeted women between July 3 and July 24, 2024. Prosecutor Mr O’Sullivan told Woolwich Crown Court that Cortes-Pinerez used his bicycle to silently approach victims from behind, grab their buttocks firmly, and quickly escape.
The attacks occurred in Greenwich, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Charlton, and Surrey Quays. One woman was seriously injured after falling while chasing him to take a photo. Another suffered a panic attack following her assault.
What did Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez say about his actions?
Initially, Cortes-Pinerez claimed the attacks were merely “pranks”. However, after his arrest on 30 July, he later pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault.
What sentence did the court hand down?
Recorder Martin Goudie KC sentenced Cortes-Pinerez to 19 months in prison. Due to the time he has already spent on remand, it is likely that he will be released soon.
In addition to the prison sentence, Cortes-Pinerez was issued with a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which specifically bans him from riding a bicycle.
Why was a cycling ban imposed on Cortes-Pinerez?
Recorder Goudie highlighted the bicycle’s role in facilitating the assaults, stating:
“Central to the offending is the defendant’s use of his bicycle to get close to the victims quickly, quietly and unseen, and then to be able to escape quickly.”
The court found that preventing Cortes-Pinerez from cycling was necessary to protect the public from further sexual harm.
What is known about Eddwin Cortes-Pinerez’s background?
Mr O’Sullivan told the court that Cortes-Pinerez, of Mitcham Lane in Streatham, has no previous convictions in the United Kingdom. However, little information is available about him. He is believed to be a Colombian national who has lived in the UK since 2022, though there is “a degree of confusion about his background”.
