House-hunter launched sex attack on teenage estate agent worker

BY MARTIN NAYLOR

A MAN pushed a teenage estate agent against a wall and squeezed her bottom during a house viewing.

The 19-year-old victim was on her own in the Mickleover property while she showed 35-year-old Farhan Faraj around, Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court was told.

Peter Shergill, prosecuting, said: “Once the viewing started, he started asking personal questions, which made her feel uncomfortable.

Dyson DC50i - Bagless upright vacuum cleaner - BALL Technology -...

Freenet Electrical Ltd

View details

Thisi is Dyson's smallest upright vacuum cleaner with the performance of a full size upright machine. The DC50i has Dyson's most advanced cleaner head technology and 2 Tier RadialTM cyclones.

Terms: LIMITED STOCK OFFER. FREE delivery to most UK postcodes - Next working day dispatch.

Contact: 01664 491439

Valid until: Monday, May 27 2013

“The defendant wanted to see upstairs and the victim said he should go by himself but he insisted she showed him and told her she should go up the stairs first. Once in the master bedroom, he went over to her and leaned across close to her, making her feel uncomfortable.

“The pair got downstairs and the defendant went to shake her hand.

“She offered her hand and he grabbed her and would not let go and put both hands over hers before pulling her close and kissing her on the cheek. She was taken aback by this and the defendant moved both hands on to her backside and squeezed it and pushed her against the wall.

“She was unable to move and he tried to put one hand between her legs but she managed to push him away.”

Mr Shergill said the defendant then left the property but the victim, whose identity is protected by law, was left in shock by her ordeal.

He said: “She called her mother in tears and then phoned her dad before deciding to report the incident to the police.”

In a statement made to officers, she said she was now very wary of showing people around properties.

The incident happened at 10.30am on October 2 last year at a house in Corden Avenue.

Faraj was arrested and at first denied the offence but later admitted touching the woman’s bottom, though he denied trying to put his hand between her legs.

In court, Faraj, of Cotton Lane, Derby, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

David Cusak, for Faraj, said his client regretted “his big error of judgment” and was “very sorry”.

Outside court, Faraj said: “I am mortified about what I did and extremely sorry for what I put this young girl through. Not a day goes by when I do not regret what I did.”

Faraj was bailed and will be sentenced on February 15.

After the hearing, a spokeswoman for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which campaigns for personal safety, said it was working with the National Association of Estate Agents. It urges estate agents to log viewers’ details and invite them to the office before being taken out to a viewing so other members of staff could see them.