Man appears in court charged with two sexual assaults in Falkirk

A man has appeared in court on two consecutive days charged with sexual assaults.

Muhammad Sheikhi, 22, whose address was given as the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk, first appeared on Monday over two charges on summary complaint.

The first alleges he approached a woman on Sunday in Kerse Lane and pursued her, blocked her path and repeatedly placed his phone in her hand and “insisted” that she provide her contact details.

It is alleged he then shouted towards her and sent her a message on social media.

It is alleged this all amounted to threatening and abusive behaviour likely to cause a reasonable person fear and alarm – a statutory breach of the peace.

The second alleges that on the same date and in the same place, he sexually assaulted the woman.

Sheikhi, described as Arabic-speaking, was represented by local solicitor-advocate Stephen Biggam.

Sheriff Maryam Labaki granted bail and continued the matter to a case management hearing to be held at Falkirk Sheriff Court in three weeks.

The day after his summary appearance, Sheikhi appeared again in private at Falkirk Sheriff Court on petition on two charges of sexual assault by touching without consent.

He was committed for further examination and remanded in custody and will appear in court again, also in private, next week.

It is understood the initial allegations have been “rolled up” into the petition case so the summary case has been superseded.