Mohammed Esmati, a 28-year-old man from Afghanistan residing in Widnes, was convicted of sexual assault after groping a distressed woman outside Reef nightclub in Warrington town centre. The incident occurred in August 2023 at approximately 5.15am, when the victim, who had been drinking with friends and stepped outside for a cigarette, was approached by Esmati, whom she did not know.
The assault was captured on CCTV footage, showing Esmati hugging the woman against her will, attempting to kiss her, and then placing his hand under her clothing to touch her chest. The victim forcefully pushed him away and reported the incident to bar staff, who alerted police. A vigilant CCTV operator spotted the behaviour in real time and notified Cheshire Police, enabling officers to arrive swiftly and arrest Esmati as he attempted to leave the scene.
During his police interview, Esmati provided a prepared statement claiming the hugging and kissing were consensual but denied touching her breasts or committing any sexual assault. When shown the CCTV evidence, he made no further comments. At the trial held at Warrington Magistrates’ Court in January 2024, the victim gave evidence from behind a screen, describing her shock: 'I just remember a pair of hands going down my top, and I freaked out.' She recounted hyperventilating and leaning over the club barriers in distress, with door staff calling the police.
Esmati, when questioned in court, admitted to holding his coat with one hand and touching the top of her chest with the other but disputed inserting his hand underneath her top. Prosecutor Lynne Sayers emphasised the lack of consent, stating: 'The victim was very clear she did not consent. She is absolutely clear that she was touched by the defendant. She was crying and distressed.' Sayers also noted Esmati's silence when confronted with the CCTV footage.
On 19 March 2024, magistrates determined the offence was so serious, particularly given the victim's vulnerability and the serious impact on her, that only a custodial sentence was justified. Esmati, of Victoria Road, Widnes, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, to be served immediately. He was also required to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years upon release and ordered to pay £650 in court costs to the Crown Prosecution Service plus a £187 victim surcharge.
Following the sentencing, PC Hannah Mooney of Cheshire Police commented: 'Despite denying his crime, not only did we have his actions captured on CCTV, but we also had an eagle-eyed CCTV operator picking up on the behaviour and alerting us to a crime in action. I would like to thank the operator for their professionalism and quick-thinking actions. Thanks to you, we have a sexual predator arrested, convicted, and now jailed.' The case was reported by the Warrington Guardian, highlighting the role of swift police response in protecting the public from such predators.