A 30-year-old Afghan man has been charged in connection with a series of alleged sexual assaults on women in the Portswood and Bevois areas of Southampton.
Sohail Amiri, of Highfield Lane, Southampton, is set to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court this morning (29 November) following a police investigation into three separate reports of sexual assault.
The most recent incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday (25 November) on Upper Shaftesbury Avenue. Police said a woman was walking along the road just after midnight when she was approached by a man she did not know, who then allegedly tried to kiss her. The woman was able to force him away and managed to run from the scene.
Officers launched an enquiry after the incident and subsequently charged Mr Amiri, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, with sexual assault.
He also faces two further counts of sexual assault in connection with incidents on Westwood Road on 23 September, where he is alleged to have made inappropriate comments and approaches to two women.
In addition to the sexual assault charges, Amiri has been charged with entering the United Kingdom without leave, contrary to Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971.
He is due in court today in Southampton.
Highfield House Hotel in Highfield Lane, Portswood, has been subject to repeated anti-immigration protests.With protest from locals taking place every weekend, and a counter protest from Diane Abbott’s ‘Stand Up To Racism’ group backed by Labour Councillors counter-demonstrating in favour of the asylum hotel.
