Stalker Strikes on Leeds Bus: Chilling Attack Near Victim’s Front Door
A terrifying ordeal took place last August on a Leeds city centre bus when 21-year-old Iranian national Sami Rasouli stalked a woman, groped her, and tried to force a kiss just yards from her home.
Despite plenty of empty seats, Rasouli sat right behind the victim on the Boar Lane bus. When she got off at her village stop in north Leeds, he followed closely behind on foot.
Grope and Kiss Attempt Outside Victim’s Home
Feeling the danger, the woman stopped and turned around. Rasouli called her “beautiful,” begged for her Snapchat, and even used Google Translate to invite her to the pub.
He pressed for a kiss. When she told him to leave her alone, he grabbed her and tried to kiss her. She dodged the full kiss, but he planted one on her cheek and then pushed her into bushes as she tried to escape.
DNA Evidence Seals Rasouli’s Fate
The victim raced home and told her parents. Rasouli was arrested the next day. He denied wrongdoing and claimed no DNA would be found.
Forensic tests proved otherwise — his DNA was on her cheek and jeans. With no prior convictions, Rasouli flipped his plea to guilty just as his trial was starting.
Judge Slams Rasouli and Locks Him Up
Today at Leeds Crown Court, Rasouli was jailed for two years and hit with a 10-year restraining order to stay away from the victim. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade.
Judge Geoffrey Marson KC questioned why Rasouli, who lives in Huddersfield, was on a bus to a north Leeds village on a Sunday when his barbershop was closed.
Defence lawyer Eleanor Mitten said Rasouli fled danger in Iran, has no family in the UK, and showed remorse. She added he needs help with his attitudes to sex and consent.
Judge Marson said he “hoped” Rasouli would be deported after serving his sentence.
