MAN FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMEN IN UNDERPASS

AMAN who sexually assaulted two women on a dark underpass was caught after he dropped an earphone at the scene. Rahmat Karimi, 27, groped the 46 and 24-year-old women in Glasgow’s Cowcaddens area on January 22.

Karimi pounced on the first woman after he called for help and she went to assist him. He then put his hands down the second victim’s jeans, strangled and kissed her around 30 minutes later.

The pervert dropped an earphone before fleeing the scene which was later recovered and swabbed for DNA which pinned him to the crimes.

Karimi pleaded not guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court accused of assaulting the two women with intent to rape.

But, jurors convicted him and he will

be sentenced next month pending background reports. Sheriff Joan Kerr said: “These are extremely serious matters.

“These are so serious that at stages of this trial I have thought you were fortunate to be prosecuted at the Sheriff Court rather than the High Court.

“You subjected two women to frightening, violent and violating attacks.

“You did two of these in the space of about 30 minutes in one evening.

“It has been established your intention to rape these women and the intervention of others was most fortunate.”

The 24-year-old woman was walking home from work around 9pm when Karimi touched her bum at the underpass.

She stated in evidence: “When I showed him my phone to show I was calling the police, he took it off me.”

Karimi grabbed her by the arm and she was pushed to the floor. Karimi was unable to take off her jeans but put his hand inside them. She claimed the man “strangled” her by putting his two hands around her neck before later running away.

Prosecutor Mark Allan asked if the man left anything behind and she stated: “Yes, his earphones.”

Forensic scientist Suzanne Farrer told jurors that she analysed the recovered white earbud.

Allan asked: “There was a mixed DNA profile obtained which contained the presence of DNA from Karimi, the woman and another person?” Farrer replied: “Yes.”

The witness added that swabs from the woman’s lips, underpants, jeans, jacket and gloves also contained traces of Karimi’s DNA.

Jurors had earlier heard from the 46-year-old. Karimi was put on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period meantime.