A man has been fined £400 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during a Harry Potter tour at Leadenhall Market in the City of London. Abdul Barkeeh Salihi, 24, groped the girl’s bottom while she was with her family visiting the filming location for Diagon Alley.
After the assault, the girl’s family confronted Salihi at Rocca restaurant in Leadenhall Market, where he reacted by throwing a chair through a window. Prior to this incident, Salihi had also slapped the bottom of a 42-year-old woman on Lombard Street earlier that day.
Salihi, an Afghan national, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and criminal damage. He received a £400 fine, a £160 victim surcharge, and will be listed on the sex offenders register for five years. Detective Constable Natalie Schofield of City of London Police described the assaults as distressing and commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward.
Leadenhall Market, known for its historical significance and as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies, was the scene of Salihi’s first assault on a woman walking in the rain. He followed her closely before slapping her bottom. Later that day, he targeted the teenage girl, leading to the confrontation at Rocca restaurant.
During the confrontation, Salihi refused to leave initially, displayed agitation, and ultimately threw a chair through a window. He was apprehended by the public until police arrived. Judge Ian Darling presided over the case and sentenced Salihi on July 13.