A would-be Romeo was today (Friday) cleared of gro

A would-be Romeo was today (Friday) cleared of groping the leader of an excited group of women out on a traditional ‘hen night’.

The 25-year-old clubber said the woman appeared friendly after they chatted at London’s Hippodrome so he asked her onto the dancefloor – putting his arm
around her waist as part of the invitation.

At London’s Southwark Crown Court, Javid Oryakhel was accused of leaning over and cupping and squeezing the ‘shocked’ woman’s breast – the 15 strong group of women already having mistaken him for a waiter.

After his arrest on February 5, and speaking through an interpreter, the
defendant, of Talbot Road, South Tottenham, north London, immediately denied
indecent assault.

The defendant maintained he saw the group arrive and admitted chatting to his alleged victim – complementing her on how nice she looked and inviting her to dance.

The charmer admitted putting his arm around her waist but said when she
declined the proposal he removed his arm and left the group.

The court heard the girls had travelled to London from Reading for the hen party organised by the alleged victim for one of her work colleagues.

Miss X, from Maidenhead, said they had already been to a pub, the trendy Buzz Bar and the rest of the group played ‘follow the leader’ as she led the way to the Hippodrome.

She said the party believed Oryakhel was a waiter as he guided the party to tables and helped her choose drinks from the wine list.

But she said she was left stunned in disbelief when she accused the defendant of leaning over her and touching her breast.

It was only after making an angry complaint to management she realised the
stranger was not a member of staff – although she was helped to search out the man who was arrested after police were called.

Paul Crampin, defending, told a jury of six men and six women that Oryakhel’s account was accurate, ‘entirely plausible’ and consistent from the beginning – unlike the evidence of Miss X and a friend who claimed to have witnessed the attack.

‘Try and think of events using your common sense.

People might encourage
someone to go for a dance by putting an arm around their waist – it is a
gesture you will have seen many times.

‘

The barrister said it was clear the girls enjoying the hen night were ‘merry’ despite Miss X’s claim she was not drunk because she felt responsible as organiser of the party.

‘Of course they were merry,’ said Mr Crampin.

‘They were on a hen night and out for a good time – it’s not a criticism but something bound to happen.

‘

He said Miss X demonstrated how her breast was touched from the bottom before it was squeezed – her friend claiming she saw the defendants hand partly on Miss X’s top and partly on her skin.

It was agreed, said counsel, that the victim was wearing a shimmering cosmetic for the disco on her chest – yet no residue of the glitter was found on the defendant’s hand when examined by police.

He said the friend told the court Miss X was wearing trousers and a fashionable vest top – yet in her statement claimed the victim was wearing a dress.

Further, he argued, that Miss X claimed Oryakhel showed them to the table, her friend saying the defendant approached them once they were sat down.

And he asked of the different stories: ‘Is it because they have discussed it
together since and her recollection has ben influenced by Miss X?’

Mr Crampin said his client, a man of good character, was entitled to an
acquittal because there were too many conflicts in the evidence the jury could be sure the Crown had proved its case.

ends