Man gets suspended sentence for sexual assault of 14-year-old girl

A Bangladeshi who followed a 14-year-old girl with Downs Syndrome into a shop and sexually assaulted her has been given a suspended sentence of three years.

Ahmed Reaz (aged 35) of Leinster Street, Athy, Co Kildare pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault.

Counsel for the prosecution, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, told Judge Patricia Ryan that the victim and her mother were followed by Reaz into Gamestop in Rathmines on the afternoon of June 18, 2010.

As the girl's mother queued at the counter she noticed Reaz approach her daughter and place his left hand on her breast.

The court heard that the girl's mother screamed at Reaz and ran after him after he fled from the shop.

Reaz ran into the nearby Swan Shopping Centre and was apprehended by a security guard. He fell to his knees apologising and begged for the gardaí not to be called.

On his arrest Reaz made admissions to gardaí and expressed his remorse for the incident.

The court heard Reaz has been living in Ireland for seven years and has a wife and children back in Bangladesh whom he rarely sees.

Defence counsel told Judge Patricia Ryan that Reaz was deeply remorseful for his actions.

Judge Ryan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence.