Alleged serial sex offender and 'flasher' charged by letter and given six weeks to turn up to court

AN ALLEGED serial sex offender has been charged with multiple offences by postal requisition giving him six weeks before his first court appearance.

Ali Ay, 40, from Muswell Hill, north London, was charged by post on March 31 with 10 counts of indecent exposure and nine counts of sexual assault.

He was told to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in mid May.

The charges follow an investigation by the Met Police into reports that 11 women, aged from 18 to 33, were sexually assaulted by a man who exposed himself in public spaces in Camden and Islington between April 2019 and September 2021.

Suspects of serious offences are usually arrested then charged before being held in police custody to appear at a magistrates' court next morning so they can be remanded in custody ahead of trial.

A postal summons can be used if it is felt there are no requirements for bail conditions to be imposed and the alleged offender is not considered to be a prolific priority offender.

The offence or offences must also only be summary or either way offences, which could be dealt with at a magistrates' court or crown court.

The Met was asked why Ay was charged by post and a spokesman said: "That was the decision taken in this particular case."