Man who molested girl while on licence for earlier attack given life sentence

A court heard that Mohammed Akram, 52, who has also served time for killing someone, had been assessed as posing a high risk to the safety of the public, and a judge decided that he should be kept in custody indefinitely.

Lord Brodie told Akram at the High Court in Edinburgh that he would be freed only if the Parole Board for Scotland deemed it safe.

“Much would have to be done before I would anticipate the parole board ordering your release,” added Lord Brodie.

Akram, a prisoner, denied sexually assaulting the girl at a New Year party on 1 January, 2011, in her home in the Wardieburn area of Edinburgh, but was convicted by a jury.

As a teenager in 1979, Akram was jailed for five years for culpable homicide over the death of another youth in a fight in Glenrothes, Fife. And in 2003, he was given an eight-year sentence with three years’ supervision for indecently assaulting a student, 16, at a house in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. The teenager woke to find Akram, the ex-boyfriend of a flatmate, at her bedroom door.

In the latest offence, Akram sneaked into the girl’s room, would not let her leave, and handled her over her clothing. The girl described him as “horrible and nasty”.

The defence counsel, Steven Borthwick, said that following the incident, Akram had been recalled to prison under the licence for the 2003 sentence. He maintained his innocence.

Lord Brodie said he had been persuaded by background reports that he should impose an order for lifelong restriction. He ordered that Akram served at least a year before he could apply for parole.