Convicted Newcastle Sex Offender Banned From City Centre

A man with a history of sexual offending has been handed a suspended prison sentence after sexually assaulting two women inside a busy takeaway in Newcastle city centre.

Metin Mentesh, 61, travelled around 30 minutes from his home in Hamsterley Colliery to Newcastle before carrying out the offences during the early hours of the morning in the Bigg Market area, one of the city's busiest nightlife destinations.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victims had been waiting to collect food after a night out when Mentesh stood uncomfortably close to them before deliberately pressing himself against each woman in separate incidents. The women immediately became alarmed and reported what had happened to police.

CCTV footage helped identify the offender.

Prosecutors told the court that CCTV footage captured Mentesh inside the takeaway where he was seen lingering despite never ordering any food. After the assaults, he left before returning to the same premises around 15 minutes later, once again without making a purchase.

David Poval, prosecuting, said the takeaway was crowded with people enjoying Newcastle's popular weekend nightlife. Officers later reviewed CCTV footage which helped identify Mentesh as the suspect responsible for the assaults.

When interviewed by Northumbria Police, Mentesh denied committing any sexual offence and claimed a medical condition meant he could not have carried out the acts.

Previous convictions revealed in court.

The court heard Mentesh has a record of previous offending, including convictions for sexual offences dating back to 2007. In 2018, he was convicted after groping a young woman in a pub.

Judges also heard that in 2014 he received a public order conviction after being discovered naked inside a vehicle parked at a McDonald's car park.

Defence solicitor Penny Hall said her client is autistic, suffers from poor physical health and acts as a full-time carer for his mother. She also argued the incidents were brief.

However, Recorder Nathan Moxon said he was satisfied Mentesh had deliberately targeted women and intended to prey on vulnerable victims enjoying a night out in Newcastle.

Suspended sentence and strict restrictions imposed.

Mentesh, of Colt Park, Hamsterley Colliery, admitted two counts of sexual assault.

He was sentenced to 27 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The court also imposed a six month nightly curfew between 11pm and 7am. In addition, Mentesh is banned from entering Newcastle city centre between 11pm and 6am.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years was also imposed. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register as part of the sentence.

Concerns remain over violence against women.

The case has once again highlighted concerns around women's safety during nights out in Newcastle and across England and Wales.

According to the Office for National Statistics, around 900,000 adults aged 16 and over experienced sexual assault during the year ending March 2025. The survey found unwanted sexual touching was the most commonly reported offence, affecting approximately 1.4 percent of adults, while women were significantly more likely to be victims than men.

Police continue to encourage anyone who experiences unwanted sexual behaviour while enjoying Newcastle's nightlife to report incidents as quickly as possible, with CCTV and witness evidence often playing an important role in securing convictions.