Man groped two women in underpass within 30 minutes of each other

A man who sexually assaulted two women in a dark underpass within 30 minutes of each other has been jailed for five years.

Rahmat Karimi groped the two women in Glasgow’s Cowcaddens on January 22, 2021.

Karimi pounced on the first woman after he called for help and she went to assist him.

He then put his hands down the second victim’s jeans, strangled and kissed her half an hour later.

The 27-year-old then dropped an earphone before fleeing the scene, which was later recovered and swabbed for DNA which pinned him to the crimes.

Karimi was convicted by a jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting the two women with intent to rape.

Sheriff Joan Kerr said: “You subjected two women – strangers to you – to frightening violent and violating attacks.

“Your crimes were predatory and took place within 30 minutes of each other in a street in Glasgow.”

The sheriff also put Karimi – originally from Afghanistan – on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period of time.

The court heard the 24-year-old woman was walking home from work around 9pm when Karimi touched on the buttocks at the underpass.

Karimi grabbed her by the arm and she was pushed to the floor.

He was unable to take off her jeans but put his hand inside them, and tried to kiss her.

The 24-year-old said Karimi “strangled” her by putting his two hands around her neck but ran away when a woman arrived at the scene.

Prosecutor Mark Allan asked if the man left anything behind and she stated: “Yes, his earphones…Apple ones.”

The woman stated that they were recovered by the police.

Forensic scientist Suzanne Farrer told jurors that she analysed the white earbud.

Mr Allan asked: “There was a mixed DNA profile obtained which contained the presence of DNA from Karimi, the woman and another person?”

Miss Farrer replied: “Yes.”

The witness added that swabs from the woman’s lips, underpants, jeans, jacket and gloves also contained traces of Karimi’s DNA.

Jurors also heard from a 46-year-old woman who had been walking a distance behind her boyfriend at the underpass some 30 minutes prior to the attack.

She came across Karimi who was lying on a slope and told jurors: “He was asking for help and I thought there was something wrong with him, he was maybe hurt.

“I went to see if I could help at all.”

The woman claimed the man then gestured while exposing himself.

She called Karimi a “pervert” before catching up with her boyfriend.

Her partner then went searching for Karimi, leaving her alone.

Karimi then appeared on the scene again asking for help.

Mr Allan asked what happened.

The woman replied: “I walked on quickly telling him to go away and to leave me alone. He caught up quickly.

“By that time, we were back at the underpass and he grabbed me and put his left hand on my mouth then put his hand down the front of my leggings.”

The woman was then repeatedly groped by Karimi as she was screaming for her boyfriend.

Karimi tried to drag her backwards as she tried to fend him off.

The woman stated he fled after two people arrived at the scene who had watched events take place from their nearby flat.

Mr Allan asked how the woman felt about the incident and she replied: “Violated, upset, I went to try and help someone and that’s what happened to me.”

Sinead Corrigan, defending, told the sentencing that Karimi does not accept a level of responsibility.

The lawyer added: “He denies there was any prior planning for these offences.

“Ultimately, these offences would have caused a high degree of upset and trauma for the victims involved.”