In January 2026, the Offender Database reported that Manoj Chinthathira, 29, of Wilfred Road, Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Taunton Crown Court. Chinthathira was convicted of a brutal sexual attack on a woman in a local park, leading to a swift investigation and conviction by Avon and Somerset Police.
The assault occurred in Victoria Park during the late hours of Friday, October 10, and the early hours of Saturday, October 11, 2025. Following a public appeal for information, officers identified and arrested Chinthathira within 24 hours of the report. Forensic evidence and police inquiries led to him entering guilty pleas to two counts of rape during a court hearing in November 2025.
During the sentencing on January 8, 2026, the prosecution detailed the traumatic nature of the attack and the impact on the victim. His Honour Judge Stephen Climie noted the severity of the violence and the location of the offence in a public space. Chinthathira was handed a 12-year jail term for each count, to run concurrently. The judge also issued a formal order that Chinthathira would be deported from the United Kingdom upon completion of 50 per cent of his custodial sentence.
Detective Inspector Rachel Walls praised the victim’s courage, stating that the swift arrest and significant sentence should serve as a warning to those who commit sexual violence. The police emphasised that Victoria Park and other public areas in Taunton are subject to ongoing patrols to ensure community safety following the incident.
As a result of his conviction for rape, Manoj Chinthathira has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He is managed under the highest level of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Somerset. Should he remain in the country or return following deportation, he is subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which includes strict, legally enforceable conditions regarding his movements and contact with the public.
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