Man who sexually assaulted another male near the River Bann in Portadown is jailed
A man who sexually assaulted another male near the River Bann in Portadown has been jailed.
The 29-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Maghaberry Prison.
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Khalid Raimi, whose address was listed as of no fixed abode in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area, was accused of sexually assaulting a man on August 3 this year.
Raimi’s solicitor, Mr Philip Reid, said his client admitted the charge.
The court heard that at around 4.24pm on August 3, police were tasked to attend a report of a sexual assault of a male at the River Bann area of Portadown.
The injured party said a male, who was unknown to him, had approached him and asked for ‘a smoke’ and the victim ‘obliged the request’.
"He alleges the male then followed him and asked him whether he wanted a bl** job which he had declined. The male then followed him and grabbed the injured party’s buttocks with both hands against the injured party’s will and without his consent,” said the prosecutor.
He described the assailant who was wearing a white puffa coat. A male matching the description was located a short distance away at Castle Street in Portadown.
Mr Reid described the incident as “obviously shocking” but at the ‘”lower end of that type of assault”.
He said his client is originally from Yemen and had been here for 10 days at the time of the incident.
“He came here to seek work. There seems to be some kind of visa issue,” said the solicitor.
"He was staying with a friend. He does say he wants to stay and try and secure employment but I suspect because of this there may well be Home Office intervention. Whether or not he will be able to do that will be a different matter.”
Mr Reid said his client said he was under the influence of alcohol and “some other substance” at the time of the incident.
“He says that might have affected his behaviour which, of course, is completely unacceptable,” said Mr Reid, adding his client has been in custody since the offence.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “Any sexual assault is very serious and, no doubt, distressing for the victim.”
Raimi was jailed for three months plus the £25 offender levy.