In 2026, a 28-year-old man was handed an extended sentence of over ten years at Liverpool Crown Court after ambushing a woman in a residential communal hallway in Southport and attempting to flee the country.
Klintis Duarta, 28, appeared for sentence before Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday 16 September 2026. Duarta, who is originally from Mozambique and was visiting the United Kingdom from Portugal, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted rape and sexual assault.
The court heard that on Sunday 21 June 2026, Duarta targeted an unfamiliar woman who was visiting a friend. He followed her closely into a block of flats in Southport, cornering her inside the communal hallway where he launched a sustained and violent sexual assault and attempted to rape her. The victim demonstrated extraordinary bravery, physically fighting Duarta off until the attack was disrupted, allowing her to escape and alert authorities.
Detectives from Merseyside Police initiated an urgent manhunt. Within 24 hours of the offence, officers intercepted and detained Duarta at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as he attempted to board a flight to escape the jurisdiction.
In a poignant victim personal statement submitted to the court, the woman outlined the enduring psychological trauma inflicted by the attack:
“I have previously suffered with nightmares anyway however since the incident I often have nightmares about the incident whereby I find I wake up feeling panicked with a sense of anxiety that last for hours. Since the incident I now take extra caution and care when entering any building. I ensure that I have checked the area first before opening the door and making sure that this has closed behind me and no one else has come through. I am aware that these things happen however you don’t usually believe that it would be on your doorstep let alone happen to yourself.”
Detective Superintendent Siobhan Russell praised the survivor’s resilience and highlighted the rapid police response:
“This was a relentless and sustained assault on a woman who was simply going about her day and visiting a friend. To be targeted in this manner by a complete stranger is utterly appalling. The victim has showed immense courage throughout. She managed to fight off Duarta during the incident and then went on to support the prosecution. As she detailed in her VPS, this has clearly had a huge impact on her life and I sincerely hope she can recover from what happened. Following the incident, we were absolutely determined to find the person responsible and carried out a thorough investigation that thankfully led to him being detained at the airport the following day.”
The presiding judge sentenced Duarta to a custodial term of six years and eight months’ imprisonment, with an additional four years to be served on extended licence upon eventual release, resulting in a total extended sentence of ten years and eight months.
Duarta was also made subject to indefinite notification requirements on the statutory Sex Offenders Register.
Image – Court Appearance Sketch
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.