A man who had his asylum application rejected has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting three women in Southampton. Sohail Amiri, residing at the Highfield House Hotel, attacked his victims by demanding kisses and making unwanted advances.
One of the incidents involved a university student who was walking home late at night when Amiri forced himself on her, attempting to kiss her multiple times. Despite her resistance, he persisted, pushing her against bushes and making lewd remarks.
Amiri’s predatory behavior was also witnessed by another victim who he approached on her way to work and demanded a kiss. She managed to escape, but he later targeted one of her colleagues with similar advances.
Identified through CCTV and DNA evidence, Amiri was found guilty of two sexual assaults and one attempted assault. His actions left the victims traumatized and fearful of walking alone, with one student even having to delay her studies due to anxiety.
Amiri, who arrived in the UK seeking asylum, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for his crimes. The court heard about his struggles with PTSD, depression, and epilepsy, and his defense lawyer emphasized his remorse for the assaults.
In addition to the prison term, Amiri was also sentenced to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. The judge condemned his actions, emphasizing that women should feel safe walking at any time without fear of such attacks.
