José Sepulvida-Gomez

A man from Woodford Green has been imprisoned for eight years after committing a sexual assault on a woman who was asleep in her boyfriend's home in Haringey. The incident occurred during a house party near Finsbury Park on the evening of 30 August 2016.

The victim, a woman in her 30s, had attended the party and retired to bed around 1am, facing the wall in a bedroom she considered safe, having stayed at the address multiple times before. She fell asleep believing she was secure. However, at approximately 2am, she awoke to find herself being sexually assaulted by José Sepulvida-Gomez, 27, of Prospect Road, Woodford Green. Initially mistaking him for her boyfriend, she turned around and realised the assault was being carried out by a stranger.

The woman reported the incident to the police the following day. Following a five-day trial at Blackfriars Crown Court, Sepulvida-Gomez was found guilty on 22 June of one count of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced on 1 August to eight years' custody.

PC Susanna Marri, of the Metropolitan Police's child abuse and sexual offences command, commented on the case: "José Sepulvida-Gomez is an individual who preyed on a vulnerable woman when she was asleep in her boyfriend’s bed in a place where she felt safe. She had to relive the ordeal by giving evidence at court." The officer praised the victim's courage in testifying and encouraged others affected by sexual assault to seek help from trusted individuals or the police.

The case was prosecuted by the Metropolitan Police, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address sexual offences in London. Sepulvida-Gomez's actions exploited the victim's vulnerability, underscoring the importance of vigilance in familiar environments.