A young woman sought assistance at a local store after getting stranded following a night out, only to face exploitation by a male employee. Yaaqob Saleh, aged 20, left the distressed woman in tears after assaulting her in the early hours at the shop where he was employed. The incident took place in March 2025 in Liverpool city center, as detailed in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. The woman’s phone had died while she was trying to hail a cab home, prompting her to enter the Liverpool One Newsagents and Convenience Store on Whitechapel for help. Saleh, a resident of Toxteth, was working at the store and allowed the woman to charge her phone to book a taxi, according to prosecutor Michelle Dodd.
Despite the woman’s rejections, Saleh made inappropriate advances by touching her thigh and requesting a kiss. He then proceeded to kiss her on the cheek and later put his hand up her skirt, touching her inappropriately. The victim, feeling violated, curled up and cried after the ordeal. Once her phone had sufficient charge, she contacted a friend and left the premises. In a statement presented in court on her behalf, she expressed a range of emotions she had been experiencing since the assault, including anxiety, depression, and anger.
The victim highlighted the loss of her independence as a significant impact of the incident, stating that she now relies on her parents for outings and constantly fears a recurrence of the traumatic event. The assault led to a decline in her self-esteem and mental well-being. She also shared feelings of anger towards the perpetrator and the world, along with struggles with alcohol abuse as a coping mechanism. The court was urged to consider a restraining order against Saleh to prevent further contact with the woman due to her vulnerable state during the incident.
Saleh was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial, although his sentencing was postponed due to his solicitor’s admission of lacking the necessary expertise to represent him in criminal proceedings. Despite an appeal pending, the judge emphasized the need to proceed with the sentencing based on the established evidence. Saleh’s legal counsel argued against a custodial sentence, citing lack of prior convictions and alternative recommendations in a pre-sentence report.
The judge, however, emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the need for appropriate representation for the defendant. Saleh’s sentencing was rescheduled to secure different legal representation, with a condition of bail prohibiting any contact with the victim until the next hearing date in January 29.
