ABDISHAKHUR AHMED SHOCKS BIRMINGHAM WITH SEX ASSAULT DURING COVID LOCKDOWN

During the early days of the Covid pandemic, a woman out for her daily walk in Birmingham became the victim of a terrifying sexual assault carried out by Abdishakhur Ahmed. The incident took place on the evening of April 9, 2020, a time when the city was under strict lockdown measures and residents were encouraged to stay home, making the event all the more tragic and distressing.

According to court proceedings, the woman was walking along Saltley Viaduct, crossing near Saltley Business Park, when she encountered the defendant, 27-year-old Abdishakhur Ahmed, who was walking towards her. The woman initially assumed he might have had some form of special needs, as Ahmed was mumbling incomprehensible words. Despite this, she continued her walk, but Ahmed followed closely behind. The situation quickly escalated when Ahmed pulled the woman back by her hood, causing her to scream for help.

In the course of the assault, Ahmed managed to put his hand down the victim’s top, holding her for approximately 30 seconds in a distressing physical violation. The attack did not end there; he then pressed his pelvis against her backside multiple times before fleeing the scene abruptly. The woman’s screams attracted the attention of two individuals in a passing car, who stopped to assist her.

Initially, these witnesses believed the incident might have been a misunderstanding between romantic partners, but their suspicions grew when they saw Ahmed fleeing the scene. They quickly pursued him on foot, catching up and tripping him to prevent his escape. The witnesses then waited for the police to arrive and take control of the situation.

Ahmed’s actions were deemed particularly egregious given the context of the ongoing Covid lockdown, a period during which individuals were especially cautious about close contact. Judge Roderick Henderson addressed this aspect during sentencing, highlighting the additional trauma inflicted on the victim: "This was an impulsive offence but it was extremely frightening for this woman who was walking along the road safely as she was entitled to when you literally went out of your way to assault her sexually. It would have been wrong to describe it as a sustained or repeated assault but for her, it will have felt like an extended ordeal. A significant aggravating factor is that this incident occurred during a Covid lockdown when most of us were understandably worried about close contact, which would have made the event even more terrifying."

In court, the prosecution, led by Paul Fairley, emphasized Ahmed’s prior criminal record. Ahmed, of Victor Tower, Nechells, who had previously been convicted of sexual assault following a trial, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £200 and is required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years.

Defense attorney Cathlyn Orchard described Ahmed as a man of previously good character, suggesting that the assault was opportunistic. The court acknowledged that Ahmed had remained free of further trouble since the incident, and the judge expressed hope that this would serve as an opportunity for rehabilitation rather than a reason for harsh punishment. The sentencing reflected a balance between the seriousness of the offence and the recognition of Ahmed’s past conduct and current circumstances.