Derry Court: Man (43) remanded on sex assault charge on 'vulnerable female crying on Derry's Walls'

A Sudanese national has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with sexual assault on a 'vulnerable female crying on Derry's Walls' on June 13.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Fattah (43) of no fixed abode faced one charge of sexually assaulting the female on June 13.

The court heard that police were called to a concern for safety report at about 12.35am on that date. 

A female had phoned 999 and while on the call could be heard engaging with a man. 

The court heard that the female could be heard 'I don't want to talk to you I don't want you touching me.'

She could also be heard telling the man not to touch her breasts and other parts of her body. 

Police responded and found the defendant and a female. She told them she had been in a bar and became upset when someone came into the bar she knew. 

She went outside and was sitting crying on Derry's Walls when she was approached by a man she didn't know. 

Initially he asked was she okay and then told her he found her attractive. 

The court was told the man made numerous attempts to touch her breasts and other parts of her body and she continually told him no.

The female rang 999 and told police the man tried to take his penis out of his trousers and tried to kiss her. 

CCTV showed a clear interaction between the defendant and the female. 

A police officer told the court that the defendant had consumed alcohol at the time. 

Police objected to the defendant being released to any address in the city and said they had 'grave concerns' about the incident.

The officer said that they believed that the defendant was scheduled for deportation and there was a possibility he could flee the jurisdiction. 

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said it was acknowledged this was 'a very serious offence.'

He said that the man had been in the country for 9 months and had no access to a passport so he asked 'where is he going to go?'

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the alleged victim in the case has the right to go about her daily life without fear of bumping into the defendant. 

He said that more information was required to find out if the defendant had any previous convictions. 

He refused bail and remanded the defendant in custody to appear again on July 6.