ABDIGANI DIIRSHI SHOCKS NORTHAMPTON WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT IN GROSVERN CENTRE TOILETS

In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the Northampton community, Abdigani Diirshe, a 40-year-old man of no fixed address, was convicted of sexually assaulting a young boy inside the toilets of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. The assault occurred less than two weeks after Diirshe was released from an immigration removal centre, raising serious concerns about his recent release and the safety of public spaces in Northampton.

On a cold December day, specifically December 16, Diirshe deliberately positioned himself next to the young boy, who was dressed in a school uniform, as he entered the shopping centre’s toilets. The court was told that after the boy finished urinating at the urinal, Diirshe engaged in a sexual assault against him. The prosecutor, Dominic Woolard, detailed that the young boy did not attempt to move or resist during the incident, reportedly out of fear of what the man might do to him.

Despite the assault, a security guard challenged Diirshe, who then left the scene without being detained. The following day, authorities apprehended him after he was observed loitering near the same toilets in the Grosvenor Centre. During police interviews, Diirshe, a Somali immigrant, claimed to have no memory of the incident, citing heavy alcohol consumption as a possible reason. He also stated that he had no sexual interest in children and that his visit to the toilets was an attempt to find an adult male to engage in sexual activity with, rather than any predatory intent.

Judge Rupert Mayo, presiding over the case at Northampton Crown Court, described Diirshe’s actions as “clearly predatory.” The judge emphasized that the crime was not merely opportunistic but involved a degree of planning, which warranted a higher sentence. Diirshe was subsequently sentenced to 21 months in prison for his actions.

In addition to his imprisonment, the court imposed a 10-year sexual offenders prevention order. This order restricts Diirshe from entering public lavatories if a person under 16 is present and prohibits him from loitering within 10 metres of any public toilet. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of the offence and aims to prevent any future incidents involving the offender in Northampton’s public spaces.