Former asylum seeker, 48, who got a masters’ degree at Oxford after being allowed to stay in Britain molested a 21-year-old receptionist as he dropped his children off at nursery
A former asylum seeker who went on to get a masters at Oxford has been accused of 'exerting power' over women in a strong of offences after he molested a receptionist whilst dropping off his children at nursery.
Father-of-two Leeri Marella, 48, inexplicably gave the shocked victim a hug at as he was leaving the building, having left the youngsters with staff. As she tried to fight him off, he then lifted her clothing with his fingers before stroking her back.The 21-year-old receptionist was so traumatised by the unwelcome encounter she quit her job. She now claims she has been suffering with severe anxiety and depression and if a stranger approaches her, she becomes nervous and apprehensive.
Considering a string of other convictions for crimes against women, all involving 'the exertion of power over someone clearly less powerful', Judge Hilary Manley warned him to 'think very carefully' before making advances on women in future.
Marella successfully claimed asylum in 1986 from his native Sudan where he got a degree in Geology then completed a masters at Oxford University.
But since his arrival in the UK, he had been convicted of beating up one former female partner and was cautioned for assaulting another. He was also jailed in 2014 after he accidentally scalded a little girl with boiling hot water.
At Manchester Crown Court, Marella, a former customer services adviser from the city's Northernden area, denied wrongdoing but was convicted of sexual assault after a trial.
He escaped with 26 weeks jail suspended for two years but Judge Manley told him: 'You have begun to build a history of offending and the victims of your offending are always female.
'All these offences have involved your exertion of power over someone who is clearly less powerful than yourself. Your victim in this case was a young woman working in the reception of the nursery where your children were cared for. You took advantage of her in her work place.
'She is a petite and vulnerable woman and the effect this has had on her was clear to see. This offence does cross the custody threshold because of your previous convictions. This was the victim's work place and she was vulnerable to a degree as she was much younger and smaller than you.
Father-of-two Leeri Marella, 48, inexplicably gave the shocked victim a hug at as he was leaving the building, having left the youngsters with staff. As she tried to fight him off, he then lifted her clothing with his fingers before stroking her back.The 21-year-old receptionist was so traumatised by the unwelcome encounter she quit her job. She now claims she has been suffering with severe anxiety and depression and if a stranger approaches her, she becomes nervous and apprehensive.
Considering a string of other convictions for crimes against women, all involving 'the exertion of power over someone clearly less powerful', Judge Hilary Manley warned him to 'think very carefully' before making advances on women in future.
Marella successfully claimed asylum in 1986 from his native Sudan where he got a degree in Geology then completed a masters at Oxford University.
But since his arrival in the UK, he had been convicted of beating up one former female partner and was cautioned for assaulting another. He was also jailed in 2014 after he accidentally scalded a little girl with boiling hot water.
At Manchester Crown Court, Marella, a former customer services adviser from the city's Northernden area, denied wrongdoing but was convicted of sexual assault after a trial.
He escaped with 26 weeks jail suspended for two years but Judge Manley told him: 'You have begun to build a history of offending and the victims of your offending are always female.
'All these offences have involved your exertion of power over someone who is clearly less powerful than yourself. Your victim in this case was a young woman working in the reception of the nursery where your children were cared for. You took advantage of her in her work place.
'She is a petite and vulnerable woman and the effect this has had on her was clear to see. This offence does cross the custody threshold because of your previous convictions. This was the victim's work place and she was vulnerable to a degree as she was much younger and smaller than you.
Comments