Jermaine Campbell

On 24 November 2023, a mother at Horn Park in Eltham, south-east London, reported to police that she had witnessed a man masturbating on a bench adjacent to the children's play area, which was occupied by several children at the time.

Later that day, a woman wearing headphones was walking along a path near the play area when she felt a hand grab her bottom. She turned to see a man running away, pursued by two other men who had observed the assault. The attacker was apprehended and held until police arrived.

The perpetrator was identified as Jermaine Campbell, 40, previously residing at Gavestone Road in Eltham. At Bromley Magistrates’ Court, Campbell was found guilty of sexual assault and exposure. He appeared for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on 26 August 2024.

In a victim impact statement, the woman described the profound trauma inflicted by the incident, stating it compelled her to leave her job to focus on recovery. She further noted: “For safety reasons I’ve moved away from the area to avoid having to relive the event.”

Campbell, who has seven prior convictions but none related to sexual offences, was portrayed in court as a vulnerable individual with disabilities. During his mitigation, he explained his actions stemmed from being 'horny' after not having sex for six weeks and recounted being robbed earlier that day while seeking services from a sex worker. He had already served six months in prison between conviction and sentencing.

Judge Christopher Grout imposed a two-year community order, which includes 60 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, Campbell was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from entering Horn Park for five years. The case was reported by News Shopper, with coverage by court and crime reporter Josh Bolton.