Stalker Strikes on Leeds Bus
A chilling case unfolded on a Leeds city centre bus last August when 21-year-old Iranian national Sami Rasouli followed a woman home, groped her, and tried to kiss her just yards from her front door.
Despite plenty of empty seats, Rasouli sat right behind the victim on the Boar Lane bus. When the woman got off at her village stop in north Leeds, Rasouli trailed closely behind on foot.
Grope and Kiss Attempt Outside Victim’s Home
The woman, sensing she was being followed, stopped and turned around. Rasouli called her “beautiful,” asked for her Snapchat and even used Google Translate to invite her to the pub.
He pressed for a kiss, and when she told him to leave her alone, he grabbed her and tried to kiss her. Although she dodged a full kiss, he planted one on her cheek. He then pushed her into the bushes as she tried to run away.
DNA Evidence and Arrest
The victim rushed home and told her parents. Rasouli was arrested the next day. He initially denied any wrongdoing and claimed no DNA would be found on the victim.
But forensic tests proved otherwise – his DNA was on her cheek and jeans. Rasouli, with no previous convictions, changed his plea to guilty on the day his trial was set to begin.
Judge Hands Down Sentence
At Leeds Crown Court today, Rasouli was jailed for two years and slapped with a 10-year restraining order to stay away from the woman. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade.
Judge Geoffrey Marson KC questioned why Rasouli, who lives in Huddersfield, was on a bus to a village in north Leeds on a Sunday, when his barbershop workplace was closed.
Defence lawyer Eleanor Mitten said Rasouli fled danger in Iran, has no UK family, and showed remorse. She added that he needs help with his attitudes towards sex and consent.
Judge Marson said he “hoped” Rasouli would be deported after serving his sentence.
