A man convicted of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at a Putney cocktail bar has received a suspended prison sentence and will be subject to electronic monitoring.
Mehmet Celal Alakus was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday to a 24-month suspended sentence with a six-month curfew. He will wear an electronic tag and must register as a sex offender for ten years.
The sentence reflects new government guidance encouraging judges to suspend prison terms of under two years where appropriate. The Sentencing Bill introduced in September 2025 creates a presumption against immediate custody for shorter sentences, part of efforts to address severe prison overcrowding that brought the system to the brink of collapse last year.
Bravery award
In a significant moment during sentencing, the judge awarded a £500 bravery award to the bar staff member who intervened during the August 2024 incident at Tequila Mockingbird on Putney High Street. The judge commended their actions for preventing a more serious assault.
Alakus, 38, who works at a takeaway restaurant in Mortlake, was convicted in August following an incident on August 25, 2024. The victim, who was attending a friend’s birthday party, was followed to the toilets and assaulted.
The incident was captured on the venue’s comprehensive CCTV system, with footage instrumental in securing the conviction. Security personnel detained Alakus at the scene.
The case highlighted the importance of extensive security measures in late-night establishments, particularly following Wandsworth Council’s introduction of stricter licensing requirements for Putney High Street venues.
