RAMZI SELIM FROM CARLISLE AND MIDDLESBROUGH CAUGHT PERFORMING SEX ACTS ON BUSES
In August 2017, a disturbing case involving a bus pervert who committed indecent acts in front of children came to light, culminating in his arrest after a remarkable identification by his wife.The individual in question, Ramzi Selim, aged 31, was responsible for two separate incidents on local buses, which drew significant attention from law enforcement authorities and the public alike.
Selim, who was at the time a new father and had been residing in England for approximately seven months, was identified after police released an image captured from CCTV footage taken aboard Arriva buses operating in the Middlesbrough and Carlisle areas.
The image was part of a police appeal aimed at locating the suspect, and it was his wife who recognized him, leading to his voluntary surrender to authorities.
The first incident occurred on January 17, when a 19-year-old woman boarded a bus at around 6 pm to go to her place of work.
According to court reports, she immediately became aware of a man sitting behind her on the back seat, who was engaged in exposing himself and performing a sexual act.
The young woman, overwhelmed with shock and fear, decided to disembark at Thornaby before reaching her intended stop and promptly reported the incident to the police.
She later described her feelings to officers, stating, "I was shocked and frightened.
I was afraid that the man might be a rapist." Police investigations revealed that CCTV footage showed Selim engaging in this inappropriate behavior for approximately 20 minutes before disembarking at Thorntree Road shops.
The footage was instrumental in identifying him as the suspect.
Further disturbing evidence emerged from a second incident on March 25 at 4:45 pm.
A 14-year-old girl was traveling on the 17A Arriva bus from Middlesbrough Bus Station when she heard a metallic banging sound and turned around to see Selim performing a sex act.
The girl observed that Selim appeared to be looking towards a young girl, estimated to be around seven years old.
The CCTV footage confirmed that this act lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.
The teenager, frightened and distressed, disembarked from the bus well before her scheduled stop and walked home, fearing for her safety.
Following these incidents, Cleveland Police released an image of the suspect to the media in an effort to apprehend him.
It was during this public appeal that Selim’s wife recognized his clothing and appearance from the CCTV stills.
This recognition led to his voluntary surrender to police authorities.
During court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, Selim pleaded guilty to charges of exposure and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Prosecutor Shaun Dodds emphasized the severity of the behavior, stating that such conduct is entirely unacceptable and causes significant distress to the victims.
Judge Tony Briggs condemned Selim’s actions, describing them as "distressing, frightening, and upsetting to the children concerned," and indicated that a custodial sentence was appropriate.
As a result, Selim, who was formerly residing in Middlesbrough and at the time of sentencing living in Chatsworth Square, Carlisle, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation.
Additionally, the court imposed a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17.
Furthermore, Selim was mandated to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
