Afghan Asylum Seeker Found Guilty of Sexual Assaults in Kent

Shafiullah Rasooli, a 29-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who overstayed his visa in the UK, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women while delivering food in Maidstone, Kent. Using a friend's vehicle registration to work illegally as a delivery driver, he assaulted the women at their homes by touching their breasts and upper bodies on June 26 and July 3. The assaults involved Rasooli stepping over the victims' door thresholds and making inappropriate comments about their ages and personal lives, which left the victims fearful and unsettled. Rasooli denied the charges, claiming the behavior was a cultural form of greeting, but was convicted on three counts of sexual assault at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court. Following his conviction, Rasooli was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a pre-sentencing report delayed until December. Prosecutors highlighted his immigration overstayer status and the impact of his actions on the victims, including one victim installing security measures due to fear and losing her job due to stress.