Sami Rasouli

Sami Rasouli targeted a young woman in Leeds city centre, spotting her at a bus stop before boarding the same bus and following her to an area close to her home, where he carried out two sexual assaults. The attacks were opportunistic and violent, leaving the victim terrified and screaming for help.

A neighbour, hearing the distress, rushed out barefoot in an attempt to intervene, but the woman had already fled the scene. West Yorkshire Police responded swiftly to the report, identifying Rasouli through witness accounts and other evidence. The incident underscored the dangers of street-based sexual violence in urban areas.

At his trial in a Yorkshire court, Rasouli was convicted of the sexual assaults. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with the judge noting the unprovoked nature of the attacks and the vulnerability of the victim. 'Your actions were predatory and caused significant harm,' the judge remarked. Following his prison term, Rasouli faces deportation proceedings due to his non-UK status. Police commended the neighbour's bravery, stating, 'Community vigilance played a key role in this case, and we urge anyone witnessing such crimes to act safely.' The sentencing reflects broader efforts by West Yorkshire Police to tackle sexual offences against women and girls in public spaces.