By Lucy Caulkett-
A businessman from Solihull who spiked the drinks of two women in a bid to lure them into sex has been jailed for six years.
Ganga Siriwardhana, 51, arranged dates with his victims in Birmingham City in April and May 2017, using a fake identity as a coy, West Midlands Police have said. Siriwardhana’s was caught as he attempted to spike other drinks. At Birmingham Crown Court, he was found guilty of two counts of administering a noxious substance with intent to commit a sexual act, and was jailed him on Friday.
He was caught after forensic analysis discovered the presence of drugs in the system of the women. Siriwardhana also spiked the drinks of another woman – just weeks later – but a member of the public saw her drowsy state and called police.
Officers attended but Siriwardhana had already driven off and the victim was taken to hospital.Tests later confirmed she had been drugged and it was quickly established that Siriwardhana was responsible.Siriwardhana, of Warwick Road, Solihull, and studying Chinese at the time denied charges of administering a noxious substance with intent to commit a sexual act.
The two students from China were spiked with clozapine, which can lead to severe drowsiness, according to the force. One of the women collapsed in a restaurant and other diners became suspicious as he tried to take her out, the force said.
SPIKED
Police said Siriwardhana, who was studying Chinese at the time, also spiked the drinks of another woman – just weeks apart – but a member of the public saw her drowsy state and called police.
Det Con Laurence Green said: “Victims can be left with a loss of control through absolutely no fault of their own. This was something that Siriwardhana was preying on to lure them into sex.
“I would like to thank the public who stepped in on both occasions when they saw what was happening and called us; their interventions were crucial in thwarting his main intentions.”
Photograph: West Midland Police