SAEED KOUCHAKI, HUDDERSFIELD PERVERT, SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEEN GIRLS
In a case that has shocked the community of Huddersfield, Saeed Kouchaki, a 37-year-old man known locally as Manni, has been convicted and sentenced for the sexual abuse of two teenage girls.The incidents took place over a span of two months, in October and November of 2017, and have left lasting scars on the victims.
Following an intense eight-day trial at Leeds Crown Court, a jury composed of ten women and two men deliberated for over four hours and twenty-two minutes before reaching a unanimous verdict on the charges.
Kouchaki was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault involving one of the victims, and on a majority basis of 10-2 for a similar charge related to the second girl.
The court heard harrowing details of the abuse.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford described how Kouchaki had physically touched one of the girls inappropriately, holding her around the waist and rubbing her back.
The assault escalated when he cornered her, preventing her from leaving, and proceeded to touch her vagina over her clothing.
The judge, Mushtaq Khokhar, condemned Kouchaki’s actions, stating, "You asked her if she had had sex before and that you would continue doing it until she enjoyed it.
When she said you should stop, you asked her to kiss you.
She refused.
You told her that she was an adult and what you did to her was quite normal." After the initial incident was reported to the police, and Kouchaki was interviewed, he continued his misconduct by assaulting the second girl.
This involved holding her by the waist, rubbing her back, touching her shoulders, kissing her on the neck, and touching her leg.
Throughout the ordeal, Kouchaki advised the victims to keep what had happened between them, attempting to silence their accounts.
The emotional toll on the victims was evident during court proceedings.
Both women provided personal statements, revealing the profound impact the abuse had on their lives.
One victim expressed feelings of dirtiness and described the abuse as leaving an indelible stain on her psyche.
She recounted how the trauma affected her ability to concentrate, leading her to drop out of college.
The other victim shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the difficulty she faced in forming intimate relationships since the incident.
In a related development, Kouchaki was acquitted of three additional counts of sexual assault involving the same victims.
It was also revealed that he previously owned the now-closed Empire Italian Restaurant on Wakefield Road, near Huddersfield town centre.
During mitigation, Anastasis Tasou, representing Kouchaki, explained that his client’s young wife, who is in the country on a spousal visa, struggles with English and is not entitled to benefits.
Mr.
Tasou highlighted that Kouchaki’s sole source of income is a sandwich shop in Pudsey, which he manages alone, and that this income supports their seven-month-old baby.
He requested the court to adjourn sentencing to allow for a pre-sentence report and to grant bail so Kouchaki could manage his business affairs.
However, the judge rejected this request.
Ultimately, Kouchaki was sentenced to two years in prison.
He will serve half of this term before becoming eligible for release on licence.
Additionally, he was issued a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting any female under the age of 18 via social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
He will also be registered as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities in the community.
