Essex Police have charged a 30-year-old man from Leigh-on-Sea following a serious assault on a young person on Woodleigh Avenue in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The incident happened at approximately 5:30 PM on February 05, 2026, in a residential part of the Belfairs ward.
According to the Essex Police Southend District team, the man faces several charges including kidnap and multiple sexual offences. He is also charged with assault by beating, assault causing actual bodily harm, and two counts of intentional strangulation.
The man is due to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court on February 09, 2026. Local residents noticed a significant police presence and forensic searches in the area for several days after the incident occurred.
Woodleigh Avenue is a suburban street located near Blenheim Primary School and Belfairs Academy. Police officers have remained in the neighbourhood to provide reassurance to families and people living nearby.
The city has seen a rise in reports of violent crime recently. Information from CrimeRate shows that violent and sexual offences increased by six per cent in the Southend-on-Sea area during 2025.
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