Wasim Bhar 32

Description

A delivery driver has been jailed for four years after sexually assaulting a woman as he dropped off a parcel at her Chelmsley Wood home.

Wasim Bhar, 24, exposed himself and groped the disabled householder after she opened the door to him.

The terrified victim told a court she had been unable to fight off the Hermes delivery driver, who denied the attack when arrested by police.

But Bhar, of Lawford Grove, Highgate, was convicted after a jury at Warwick Crown Court was told he had left traces of DNA at the scene.

The court also heard he had hid criminal convictions of theft to get the self-employed job with Hermes.

As well as being jailed, Bhar was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutor Scott Coughtrie said: This case is about a man who, while conducting his role as a parcel delivery driver, came across, or even targeted, a disabled and therefore vulnerable woman in her own home.

He sexually attacked her. Firmly grasping her by her arm, he sexually assaulted her for his own gratification.

Bhar was a self-employed delivery driver for Hermes when he arrived at the womans home with a parcel in January.

The victim told the court: He gave me the parcel, and I threw it behind me in the hallway, and said thank you.

He said, Ive seen you before. I fancy you, love.

I said, You dont even know me, and I dont know you. I stood there feeling shocked.

She said Bhar asked whether she was alone and she said someone else was in another room. He backed off, but then he came back at me..., she said.

He grabbed my arm and held it up, and then he pulled my t-shirt up... I started pushing him out of the door, but he kept coming back, asking me to do things with him.

I was scared for my life.

Police were called and enquiries with Hermes led to Bhar, whose Facebook posts including him posing with British boxing champ Amir Khan.

But after being arrested he claimed nothing unusual had taken place that day and that the woman was delusional.

After DNA tests linked him to the scene he accepted there had been sexual contact, but claimed it had been consensual.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: You attacked a woman who was disabled. She manages very well, but she needs that important commodity for someone who is disabled, confidence; and she puts great store by the haven and refuge of her home.

You had access to her by reason of your employment as a delivery driver, something you should not have been doing. They would never have employed you if they had known what a thoroughly dishonest person you were.

The grave features of this case are that you attacked a disabled woman for your own sexual gratification, you went into her home to do so, what you did was an abuse of trust, and you have shown not an ounce of regret.

The judge added: The defendant has no convictions for sexual offences, but the jury may be concerned to learn that an employee of Hermes has a number of convictions for theft and other dishonesty.

An impact statement from the victim was read out before sentencing. She said: My home was all I had, and was my safe place. Since this thing happened to me its not my safe place anymore, because of this man.

Jasvir Mann, defending, said: Whether the defendant understands it or not, a victim is entitled to feel they have sanctuary in their own home. He does not admit the offence, but acknowledges the jury found him guilty and that he is going to be punished accordingly.