A man has been fined £400 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during a Harry Potter tour in London.
Abdul Barkeeh Salihi, 24, touched the girl inappropriately while she was visiting Leadenhall Market with her family to see the filming spot for Diagon Alley.
Following the assault, the family confronted Salihi at Rocca restaurant in Leadenhall Market, leading to a disruptive incident where he threw a chair through a window.
Before this incident, Salihi also assaulted a 42-year-old woman by slapping her buttocks after following her briefly along Lombard Street earlier that day.
Admitting to two counts of sexual assault and criminal damage, Salihi, an Afghan citizen, was fined £400 with an additional £160 victim surcharge. He will be listed on the sex offenders register for the next five years.
Detective Constable Natalie Schofield of City of London Police remarked, “These were distressing incidents happening in daylight to two women simply going about their lives. One of the victims was a 14-year-old, making the offenses especially troubling.”
Schofield added, “I commend the courage of both victims for coming forward and aiding our investigation. Reporting sexual crimes can be challenging, and their bravery ensured accountability for the perpetrator.”
Leadenhall Market, known for its Harry Potter connection as the original Diagon Alley filming location, has a history dating back to the 14th century.
According to the police, Salihi committed the first assault around 3:30 pm on January 28 last year when he followed a woman sheltering from the rain near Mansion House. Salihi trailed her closely until she turned, at which point he slapped her buttocks.
Later that day, the teenage girl on the tour felt a touch on her backside and observed Salihi smirking oddly. The family then encountered Salihi at Rocca Italian restaurant, leading to a confrontation and his eventual arrest by the police.
Police reported that Salihi initially refused to leave the restaurant upon request and later caused property damage by throwing chairs through a window, leading to his apprehension by the public until law enforcement arrived.
Salihi pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced on July 13 by Judge Ian Darling.
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