A shopkeeper who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a store has appeared in a Fife court to admit breaching his sex offender notification requirements.
Zakir Ullah pled guilty to failing, within three days, to notify the police of a change of address, at a property in Methil’s Taylor Street and elsewhere between August 7 and 13 2021.
Weeks before this offence he pled guilty to sexually assaulting a child at Eliburn Minimarket in Livingston’s Jackson Place on February 25 2020.
Court papers state he put his arm around her body, hugged her, kissed her on the head, and placed his hands on her chest.
The Crown accepted his not guilty plea to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by attempting to entice her into a store room, asking her to hug him, telling her not to be scared of him and repeatedly asking her to reveal her name.
‘Cultural misunderstanding’ claim
Livingston Sheriff Court heard previously that Ullah, who was working in the shop at the time, approached the girl and asked who she was.
He told her he would give her goods for free and took her round the shop handing her sweets, before carrying out the sexual assault, which left her scared and shocked and “visibly shaking”.
The child’s mother later went to the store to confront Ullah and police were contacted.
CCTV footage was obtained by officers and as they viewed it, Ullah claimed the incident was a “cultural misunderstanding” and it was “fine” for him to give children a hug, kiss and a toffee.
He later fainted in the dock when the prosecution played the video in court and the hearing had to be adjourned.
Ullah, 29, was later sentenced to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work and was placed on an 18-month supervision order and the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.
Admitted breach
Ullah appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court last week to admit breaching his sex offender notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Defence lawyer Kieran Clegg said his client had moved to Glasgow and did not inform police of a change in address.
The solicitor said at present Ullah, a Pakistani national, is undertaking an asylum claim and lives with his wife and children.
Court papers show Ullah now lives in Glenacre Drive, Glasgow but previously lived at another Glasgow address as well as in Wellesley Road, Methil, and Clovenstone Gardens, Edinburgh.
Mr Clegg said Ullah has also completed a business degree at Edinburgh Napier University.
Sheriff James Williamson described Ullah’s offending as serious but said given the passage of time and his limited circumstances he would be admonished.
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