NURMAHOMED HASSAM JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OADBY

In a disturbing case that unfolded in Oadby, Nurmahomed Hassam, aged 58, was sentenced to a 12-month prison term after admitting to a sexual assault that took place within the supposed safety of a young girl’s home. The incident occurred on January 5 of this year, when Hassam, the owner of a furniture fitting business, visited the girl’s residence to measure her kitchen for a scheduled fitting.

According to court proceedings, Hassam had coordinated with the girl’s mother to arrange a time for the measurement. The mother was absent at the time, and her 14-year-old son was in another room, watching television, completely unaware of the inappropriate conduct that was about to occur. Hassam arrived at approximately 6:45 pm and proceeded to engage with the girl in a manner that was both invasive and unwelcome.

The court heard that Hassam initially embraced the girl, giving her a tight hug and then kissing her on the forehead. The girl attempted to push him away, indicating her discomfort. Despite her protests, Hassam continued to touch her, stroking her arm and back, and even patting her on her bottom over her clothing. The girl felt increasingly awkward and tried to maintain distance from him.

The situation escalated when they moved upstairs to her bedroom, where Hassam was to measure drawers for the furniture fitting. During this process, he made inappropriate comments about her underwear, asking if it was “sexy.” He also kissed her forehead again, stroked her hand, remarking on her soft skin, and stroked her hair. At one point, he asked if she would be his “Baby,” and slid his hand down her side, touching her bottom once more.

Hassam’s inappropriate behavior did not stop there. He continued to make comments about her smile, complimenting her appearance. When they returned downstairs, he forcibly grabbed her cheeks and pulled her face toward him, asking her to smile. Sensing the situation was becoming more distressing, the girl managed to kick open the door to the living room to alert her brother, who was in another room.

Before leaving, Hassam told the girl that he loved her, an act that left her shaken and crying when her mother returned home about half an hour later. The mother found her daughter visibly upset, trembling and crying, which prompted her to seek help and report the incident.

In an interview, Hassam admitted that he had hugged the girl but did not deny the inappropriate nature of his actions. The court was informed that Hassam, a father of seven with no prior convictions, owns a business employing eight people, and his livelihood could be severely impacted by a jail sentence.

During mitigation, Faye Mellor highlighted Hassam’s positive community impact and described the encounter as opportunistic, lasting approximately 15 minutes. Despite this, Judge Simon Hammond emphasized the severity of the offense, stating, “It must have been a terrifying ordeal in her own home. Young girls should be protected from sexual predators.”

As a result of his conviction, Hassam was placed under a sexual offenders protection order, which prohibits him from being in the unsupervised company of children under 17. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, underscoring the serious nature of his misconduct in the eyes of the law.