MIRZA SAEED AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN EDINBURGH
A court has detailed the disturbing actions of Mirza Saeed, a 63-year-old man who deceived women in Edinburgh before subjecting them to sexual assault.The incidents involved seven women who were out walking their dogs or commuting to work in the city center, with Saeed employing manipulative tactics to approach his victims.
According to court proceedings, Saeed targeted women in various locations around Edinburgh, including Harrison Park and along the Union Canal pathway.
He would approach lone women under the pretense of asking them to take photographs.
In each case, Saeed would request that the women photograph him on his phone, and then, under the guise of taking a picture together, he would attempt to kiss them on the mouth or grab their hands.
These encounters left the victims feeling uncomfortable, upset, and vulnerable.
The court was informed that on December 31, 2020, between 8 a.m.
and 9:45 a.m., Saeed approached three women walking their dogs in Harrison Park.
Each of these women was asked to take a picture of Saeed, and he then requested a photo of both of them together.
When they refused, Saeed proceeded to kiss their hands and attempted to kiss them on the mouth, actions that caused significant distress.
The victims reported feeling uneasy and upset following these encounters.
Further incidents occurred on February 20 of the previous year, when Saeed targeted women along the Union Canal pathway between 3 p.m.
and 4:45 p.m.
Similar tactics were used, with Saeed engaging women in conversation under the pretext of taking photographs before attempting to kiss them.
One particularly alarming case involved a 15-year-old girl walking her dog in the Craiglockhart area.
Saeed approached her, asked her to take his picture, and then leaned in to try to kiss her on the mouth.
The young girl fought him off by pushing him and shouting “no, no,” and later described feeling “alone and scared” after the incident.
The court heard that Saeed, who resides in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault related to these incidents.
He did not contest the charges concerning the eight other similar offences, which the Crown accepted.
During the hearing, solicitor Mark Hutchison explained that Saeed is a father of six, has been living in the UK for three years, and was experiencing loneliness and stress at the time of the offences.
Hutchison also revealed that Saeed plans to travel to Pakistan next week to attend his daughter’s wedding and intends to return to Scotland in late November.
The court, presided over by Sheriff Adrian Fraser, agreed to release Saeed on bail while social work reports and a restriction of liberty assessment are prepared, with sentencing deferred until December.
Additionally, Saeed was placed on the sex offenders register for an unspecified period.
In summary, Mirza Saeed has admitted to multiple sexual assault charges committed in Edinburgh, specifically targeting women in Harrison Park and along the Union Canal Pathway on December 31, 2020, and February 20 of the following year.
The case highlights the serious nature of these offences and the ongoing judicial process to determine appropriate sentencing and restrictions.
