Jury fails to reach verdict in case of man accused of sexually molesting student

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the case of an Iranian boxer charged with sexually molesting a student.

He was acquitted of holding her against her will.

Hasan Karkadi, 26, told the trial he thought the woman he met in the early hours of the morning on Park Street wanted to be with him, even though she had said no.

He said: “I wasn’t really thinking of sex. What was on my mind was being alone, in a room, in a house by a dual carriageway.”

The court heard that the female student was very drunk and vulnerable when he approached her.

It is claimed Karkardi approached her, and though she repeatedly told him to leave her alone, got her to take a taxi with him to his house. There he molested her after lying her on his bed.

Asked under cross-examination about the student telling him to leave her alone, he said he did not understand.

“I felt like when a girl says no but wants to say yes.

“If a girl does like a boy but she doesn’t want to show it she would speak to him, keep him waiting – it’s the same everywhere in the world.

“If a boy approaches a girl and the girl doesn’t like him she would just turn around and go.”

They got into a taxi on Park Street

He went on to say the woman entered his house of her own free will.

He denied trying to kiss her, trying to draw her onto his bed, putting his arm around her waist, preventing her from getting up, or touching her sexually.

The Crown Prosecution Service has been given seven days to clarify its position on a re-trial of the sexual assault charge.

The Iranian was bailed on condition he has no direct or indirect contact with the complainant.