British tourist sexually assaulted in lift

Horrified woman was too afraid to scream, court hears

A British tourist was sexually assaulted in a lift as she was heading to a yoga class, a court has heard.

The 35-year-old woman was in the UAE to visit her husband when the alleged attack took place.

Dubai Criminal Court was told how a man rushed up to her in the lift and started pleasuring himself against her.

When she realised what was happening she tried to step away but was too afraid to scream.

“I tried to step away from him because he stood too close behind me,” she told the hearing.

“But he stuck to me and I knew what he was doing. I was very much afraid to scream.”

The alleged attack happened at Business Bay’s Aspect tower during the afternoon of November 11 last year.

The court heard how the victim had stepped into the lift to go to the 37th floor when the man followed her in.

After the assault, he left the lift on the 34th floor while the shocked woman called security.

Police said they were able to use CCTV footage to identify the defendant and that DNA evidence also linked him to the scene.

The man denied a single charge of sexual assault and a verdict is expected to be given on February 25.