Kebab shop boss spared jail after groping teenager

AKEBAB shop manager who admitted groping a teenage girl has been spared jail.

Abdassalam Ehbair, formerly of Bangor, had initially denied the offence and had been due to stand trial but had changed his plea before the case was heard.

The 37-year-old looked upset and close to tears as sentence was passed at Caernarfon magistrates court.

Bench chairman Gwilym Morgan said: “You sexually assaulted a vulnerable young woman and this offence crosses the custody threshold.”

Ehbair was handed an eightweek prison term suspended for 12 months.

He was told he must observe an electronically-monitored curfew for the next four months and pay compensation of £200 to the woman.

He was also ordered to attend a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for 30 days and pay £265 costs.

Diane Williams, prosecuting, said the offence occurred at the kebab shop on Anglesey last year. She said Ehbair was in the shop with the teen and started kissing her.

“She told him to stop... but he continued grabbing her breasts,” the prosecutor said.

The teenager was able to get out of the shop and Ehbair was said to have begged her for forgiveness and claimed there had been a “misunderstanding”.

But she reported the matter to police and Ehbair was arrested.

Glyn Roberts, defending, handed in character references, noting Ehbair, a Libyan national, was highly thought of, and, despite having had a troubled life, had managed to obtain a PhD degree in chemistry at Bangor University.

“He accepts his conduct was unacceptable and apologises to the court,” he added.

In addition to the prison term, Ehbair must sign the Sex Offenders Register for the next seven years.