A teenage boy who was questioned by police after sexually assaulting a teenage girl went on to attack a second victim a few months later, a court has heard. Keas Ali turned down the chance to engage in "restorative justice" with the first victim, and while being investigated for that matter went on to target another girl in a similar attack.
A judge told Ali he should be ashamed of himself and the impact his actions have had on his victims, and said it was clear "there is no acceptance of responsibility, and no remorse whatsoever" on the part of the defendant.
First assault in Penarth
Newport Crown Court heard that the first incident happened in Penarth in the summer of 2022 when the defendant and the victim were both under 18. Ali lured his victim to a location away from others before locking her in a room and touching her and squeezing her breasts.
The girl subsequently told her mother what had happened and the police were alerted. The court heard that Ali was offered "restorative justice" - a victim-led process where the complainant and defendant meet - but he refused to take part.
Second assault in Cardiff
The court heard the second assault took place in the Roath area of Cardiff in October or November of the same year when the defendant again got a girl aged under 18 alone with him and proceeded to touch her legs and bum before grabbing her hand and putting it on his groin.
This second assault was also reported to the police. The defendant denied any wrongdoing.
Victims' statements
In statements which were read to the court, the victims described the impact of Ali's actions on them. The first victim described the anxiety and depression the assault caused, and how it had made her "look differently at myself in the mirror" and had affected her schooling.
She said she had been made to feel like she was the criminal during the legal process, and said the four year investigation and trial had "massively impacted" her mental health.
In her statement the second victim described how the assault affected her self-esteem, impacted her education, and led to her becoming socially withdrawn. She said it had taken years to get to a place of healing: "Some aspects of my life will always be scarred by the defendant's actions."
Sentencing
Keas Ali, now aged 21, of Clive Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, had previously been convicted at trial of four counts of sexual assault - two assaults on each of the girls - when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.
Harry Baker, for Ali, said the defendant was a young man with a good family who was aiming to go to university. He said in his submission, had the case been dealt with at the time of the offending it would have been heard in the Youth Court.
Judge Carl Harrison told Ali he should be ashamed of himself and the impact his actions have had on his victims. He said he had read the pre-sentence report on the defendant and noted: "There is no acceptance of responsibility, and no remorse whatsoever."
The judge said as a matter of law he was bound to sentence Ali in a way that was consistent with the way he would have been sentenced had he been dealt with as a 17-year-old.
Ali was made subject to a 12-month community order with a probation requirement, and must also complete 220 hours of unpaid work. The defendant must register as a sex offender for the next five years, and was made subject to five-year restraining orders.
Ali was also ordered to pay £4,380 in prosecution costs at the rate of £250 per month.
