In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Jeyhun Zeynalov, 38, walked free from court despite being a repeat sexual predator who targeted women in church environments. On appearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, the defendant—an asylum seeker from Azerbaijan living in Shelley Street, Shelton—was sentenced for a sexual assault at a Midlands church. It was reported that Zeynalov molested a woman’s bottom, an act that has caused the victim to distance herself from her faith and turn to alcohol due to the trauma.
The investigation established a persistent and predatory pattern in Zeynalov’s behaviour. Staffordshire Police reported that while the victim was in church, she felt a hand on her lower back which then moved to her bottom. The prosecution reported that Zeynalov handed himself in but claimed the contact was not sexual. The investigation established that this was his second serious offence in a year, following a suspended sentence for a previous attack where he led a vulnerable woman into the churchyard of St Mark’s on Broad Street to lick her breasts.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Zeynalov’s actions have entirely stripped the victim of her sense of security. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that the woman now feels worthless and inadequate, living in constant fear of being touched inappropriately again. The investigation established that despite Zeynalov being on a suspended sentence at the time of this latest assault, he was not returned to prison, a decision that has sparked significant concern regarding public safety.
Judge and Prosecution Counsel noted that the impact on the victim was profound, as she no longer feels safe in what should be a sanctuary of faith. For his actions in Shelton, Zeynalov admitted sexual assault and was handed a two-year community order. The judge noted that the sentence includes mandatory alcohol treatment and 200 hours of unpaid work, alongside a 20-day rehabilitation requirement intended to address his repeated targeting of lone women.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Jeyhun Zeynalov is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 2-year Community Order (Sentenced 2026).
- Unpaid Work: 200 hours.
- Requirements: 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR); Alcohol Treatment Requirement.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for 5 years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court following a Staffordshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual assault (repeat offender).
- Origin: Wellesley Street, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Zeynalov is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Staffordshire. Due to the nature of his conduct in Stoke-on-Trent, which involves the repeated targeting of women in and around church grounds, his management is a priority for the local Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register and his mandatory treatment programmes are designed to mitigate the high risk he poses to vulnerable women in the Shelton area.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Zeynalov must comply with all notification requirements regarding his residence and identity. Authorities state that his history of launching sexual assaults in public spaces like Broad Street necessitates strict oversight of his movements. Any future attempt to approach women in religious settings, fail to attend his alcohol treatment sessions, or breach the terms of his 200 hours of unpaid work will result in immediate arrest and a significant prison sentence.
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