NEWCASTLE NIGHTCLUB 'GRINDER' WHO CLAIMED HE WAS JUST DANCING SPARED PRISON FOR SEX ASSAULT
A man who claimed he was only dancing when he "grinded" against a woman in a city centre nightclub has been spared prison for sexual assault.It was in August 2024 that Ahmed Yahya was dancing with various groups of women in Jalou nightclub, in Newcastle city centre.
Prosecutor Claire Anderson said he interacted with four other females before coming close to the victim.
She stated, "He grabbed her waist from behind and started grinding against her bottom.
She told him to f*** off.
By this point, the behaviour had been reported to security and he was escorted out.
CCTV footage couldn't identify the other women involved.
Yahya later tried to re-enter the club but was refused and was involved in an altercation with door staff, leading to police being called.
He gave a prepared statement to officers, admitting he had been drinking and was dancing with women, but insisted he had not sexually assaulted anyone and was just dancing.
Yahya, 22, of Winterburn Place, Newton Aycliffe, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.
A victim impact statement described her distress: "She was very upset about the incident.
She was anxious trying to enjoy a night out with friends, and it was upsetting that someone thought they could come up behind her and rub against her." The court noted that Yahya had become disinhibited due to alcohol and expressed remorse.
His immaturity was recognized as a factor in his offending.
