A predator who followed a woman from a bar and forced her to the ground in a dirty doorway before groping her in a terrifying attack has been jailed. Amine Guermoune, who came to the UK illegally, harassed the vulnerable victim for sexual contact and forced himself on her in Newcastle city centre despite her physical and verbal attempts to make him stop.
A judge said Guermoune, 38, who is seeking asylum having fled Morocco after converting to Christianity, had shown none of the "tenets of Christianity" in the "worrying, appalling and disgusting" sexual assault.
CCTV captures the attack
The woman had gone out socialising with her friends in Newcastle city centre in May this year. Having gone around a number of the bars and clubs consuming alcohol, she left a club after sunrise with another man. Guermoune followed them, approaching and pushing the other man away. CCTV footage captured Guermoune and the victim in an archway. She told police she could remember him touching her leg under her skirt but her recollection was not good.
Ian Windridge, prosecuting, said: "However, the CCTV footage clearly shows a sexual assault taking place. He can be seen trying to kiss (her), and the CCTV audio captures her repeatedly saying 'no'. He can be seen pulling her into the doorway and pulling her down to the floor. Her top half is obscured by the doorway frame, but her legs are visible as is the defendant kneeling in front of her continuing to try to touch her. The movement of the lower part of (her) body shows that she clearly is trying to resist." The other man tried to intervene but he was again pushed away by Guermoune. Security staff saw what was happening and intervened and the police were alerted.
Judge's sentencing remarks
Sentencing him, Judge Tim Gittins said: "Your behaviour that night in the city centre of Newcastle was worrying, appalling and disgusting." The judge said Guermoune has sought to minimise his behaviour by saying his drinks were spiked but he told him he was "clearly in control of your actions" on the CCTV. He added that the victim was very intoxicated and told him: "I'm satisfied from the footage I've seen that you were aware of her vulnerability and targeted her because of it."
Judge Gittins said Guermoune had been seen touching and seeking to cuddle another woman that night and was "perhaps fortunate that did not result in a separate charge". He told him: "Having left that club and seen the state of the women there, I'm satisfied you loitered in the area for about 30 minutes before approaching your victim, she having walked some distance from the club. Having followed her, you harassed her. You harassed her for sexual contact, you held her in the street for a period of time, trying to force yourself upon her and kissing her as she made it clear she was not interested in your advances. As you sought to fondle her, you forced her to the ground in a dirty doorway and, using your body weight to hold her in position, you groped her groin and sought to run your hand under her skirt. This went on for some little time, despite her drunken physical attempts to get you off and her clear verbal protestations, saying 'no'. Even when another man tried to intervene, you, for a time, stood your ground. Fortunately the CCTV captured what you had done and you were detained by nearby security staff."
He added: "Even though, ultimately, there was no intimate skin contact, it was undoubtedly a terrifying episode for your victim. To be vulnerable and drunk, as she was perfectly entitled to be, having had a pleasant night with friends, she was attacked in broad daylight in the city centre by you. Your attack has changed her, somewhat, from a bubbly and outgoing lady to someone who is suspicious of men and hypervigilant. You have even changed her lifestyle to an extent, giving her concerns about being in certain public situations. You say you came to this country because you converted to Christianity. What you displayed that morning was nothing of the tenets of Christianity."
Sentence and defence
Guermoune, of New Bridge Street West, Newcastle, who admitted sexual assault, was jailed for 12 months and must sign the sex offenders register for ten years. Judge Gittins said: "Any stranger attack like this merits immediate custody." Ian Mullarkey, defending, said: "He expresses his remorse, regret and shame for having committed this offence." He said he is presently an asylum seeker and has found his time in custody to be difficult. Mr Mullarkey told the court Guermoune is originally from Morocco and came to the UK illegally having converted to Christianity from Islam, which caused him to be "disowned, disinherited and threatened". He added that this had caused a decline in his mental health, for which he is receiving treatment.
