SALIM KOUIDER-AÏSSA FROM KIRKINTILLOCH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Kirkintilloch and the wider East Dunbartonshire area, footballer Salim Kouider-Aïssa has been sentenced to two years in prison following a serious sexual assault incident that took place on October 31, 2021. The incident occurred at a friend’s flat in Kirkintilloch, where Kouider-Aïssa, then a player for Airdrieonians, engaged in inappropriate and non-consensual conduct towards a 23-year-old woman while she was asleep.

According to court proceedings held at Glasgow Sheriff Court, the 27-year-old footballer was found guilty of one charge of sexual assault. The court heard that Kouider-Aïssa, who joined Airdrieonians in July 2021, stripped down to his underwear and was present in a bed at the flat when the assault took place. The victim, who had met Kouider-Aïssa earlier that evening at a friend’s gathering, had gone to a spare bedroom around 5:00 AM after a night out. She was instructed to stay in the living room but later went to the bedroom to rest.

It was during this time that she woke up to find Kouider-Aïssa behind her, engaging in intimate contact without her consent. The woman described waking up to the sensation of someone touching her and being shocked to realize it was Kouider-Aïssa. She recounted that he had inappropriately touched her, and she immediately shouted, asking, “What are you doing?” to which he responded, “I thought you were awake, what have I done?” The woman emphasized that regardless of whether she was awake or not, her lack of consent made the contact unlawful.

During the trial, Kouider-Aïssa attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was uncomfortable sleeping on the couch and entered the bed to get a good night’s sleep, removing his clothes because he was feeling hot. He admitted to rubbing her leg, kissing her neck, and touching her intimately, asserting that he believed she was consenting based on her movements in bed. However, the court rejected his defense, with Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC stating that the jury’s rejection of his claim was understandable, given the evidence presented. The sheriff remarked that the victim woke up to find herself being assaulted in a horrific manner by someone she barely knew.

Following his conviction in May, Kouider-Aïssa was dismissed from his football club. The court also ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that Kouider-Aïssa’s prior status and career had been significant, but that this was now lost due to his actions. The sheriff made it clear that there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the crime.

The court heard that after the incident, Kouider-Aïssa was escorted out of the flat and was picked up by a teammate for a training session. Later, he voluntarily handed himself over to police authorities. During his testimony, he expressed remorse and stated that he now believed the woman was asleep during the incident, based on her evidence during the criminal process. He admitted that he did not speak to her to confirm whether she was awake before touching her, which contributed to the court’s decision to impose a custodial sentence. The case has garnered significant attention in the local community, highlighting issues of consent and accountability within the realm of sports and social interactions in Kirkintilloch and beyond.