Abdul Barkeeh Salihi, a 24-year-old Afghan national, has been fined £400 after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during a Harry Potter sightseeing tour in London. The incident occurred in Leadenhall Market, a historic location used as Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films.
Details of the assaults
Salihi put his hand on the girl's bottom while she was with her family in the market. Earlier that day, he had slapped the bottom of a 42-year-old woman after following her along Lombard Street. The first assault took place around 3:30pm in January last year when the woman was walking in the rain. Salihi emerged from Mansion House and followed her closely before slapping her.
After the assault on the girl, her family confronted Salihi in the Rocca restaurant in Leadenhall Market. The confrontation escalated, and Salihi threw a chair through a window. He was detained by members of the public until police arrived.
Legal consequences
Salihi admitted two counts of sexual assault and criminal damage. He was sentenced on July 13 by Judge Ian Darling at Inner London Crown Court to a £400 fine, a £160 victim surcharge, and five years on the sex offenders register. His address was given as a hotel in Oxford housing asylum seekers.
Detective Constable Natalie Schofield from City of London Police said: "These were deeply distressing sexual assaults committed in broad daylight against two females who were simply going about their daily lives. One of the victims was just 14-years-old, making this offending particularly concerning." She thanked the victims for their courage in coming forward.
