An asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl while she tried to buy a vape in a Montrose shop has been sentenced.
Salman Hssaini was found guilty after standing trial, denying sexually assaulting and communicating indecently with the 13-year-old when she tried to buy the e-cigarette.
Hssaini was working alone at the Dobry Eastern European store on Montrose’s High Street on July 20 last year when the girl entered.
The Kurdish-Iranian national asked to kiss her, then unzipped her top.
At a sentencing hearing, his solicitor explained Hssaini should never have been working there in the first place.
Hssaini, who still denies the offence, was placed on the sex offenders register and handed a direct alternative to imprisonment.
Hssaini’s victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.
She told the trial she had been with friends but went into the shop alone to purchase a vape for one of the group.
“I saw just the one male behind the counter, just sat there on their phone.
“I asked for the vape. He responded, asking to kiss me. I said: ‘no, I’ve got a boyfriend’.
“He was like: ‘Aw, your boyfriend won’t find out’.
“I asked for the vape again. He started grabbing my face.
“He tried to unzip my cardi. I had nothing underneath but a bra.”
Still denies offending
Sentencing had been deferred for Hssaini, 29, to be assessed by social workers.
Solicitor Nick Markowski said: “Clearly his position at trial was that the matter did not occur.
“He still denies the offence but it’s been explained to him with the assistance of the court interpreter that he was found guilty.
“He understands that he will be punished by the court given that finding.
“He is an asylum seeker and has been in the UK for approximately two or three years – he can’t give me an exact date.
“He continues to reside in Glasgow, supported to some degree by others from the same Kurdish community.
“I have explained to him that custody is an option. The court may be able to deal with this on the basis of a community disposal.
“He’s not working – he shouldn’t have been working that particular day.
“I suspect it’s a reflection on society someone who’s a Kurdish asylum seeker living in Glasgow was working in a Polish shop on Montrose High Street.”
Sentencing
Hssaini, of Fountainwell Road in Glasgow, was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work in the next year.
He was placed under supervision and on the sex offenders register, each for two years.
Hssaini was also made subject to conduct requirements enforcing him to declare any relationships to his social worker during that period.
He must also not have any unsupervised contact with children under 16 during this period.
Sentencing, Sheriff Mark Thorley said: “Mr Hssaini, that I will impose as a direct alternative to a sentence of imprisonment.
“If you fail in any aspect of this order, then the court has the power to review and you would leave the court with very limited options then.”
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