An Indian holidaymaker from Qatar sexually assaulted a teenage girl during a flight to the UK for a "holiday of a lifetime" - while his wife was sat beside him, British media reported today.
Suman Das, 46, was arrested at Manchester Airport after the 18-year old victim claimed he touched her between her legs while she was dozing in her seat.
She said she woke up to feel a "rubbing sensation" and fled to the back of the plane in tears.
At the time of the assault at 30,000 feet, Das' wife Sonia was sat beside him unaware of her husband's behaviour, the Manchester Evening Post reported.
He initially claimed he must have touched her by accident while fidgeting in his seat and offered to apologise - but he later said he could not have carried out an assault as he was asleep, the report said.
At Manchester magistrates court Das, from Qatar and who has been staying with friends in Bolton since his arrest, was convicted of sexual assault after a trial. He has denied the charge.
The incident occurred in July five hours into the Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Manchester.
Das and his wife were visiting the UK for a "holiday of a lifetime" while the unnamed girl was returning to Britain after travelling.
The victim told the hearing: "He knew exactly what he was doing and he wasn't sleeping. He was looking at me, I saw he was looking at me.
"He must have been looking at me to see if I was awake. He did move very quickly once he saw that I was awake."
The girl alerted a member of cabin crew and went crying to the back of the plane.
In a statement Das said later: "I may have touched accidentally - but I didn't touch her intentionally."
Prosecutor Holly Holden said: "In this case the victim has zero motivation to make a false claim. Her evidence has been consistent and credible throughout. This was an 18-year- old flying alone. She said that the defendant touched her between the legs over her clothing.
"One person sitting next to another may jostle someone with their elbow but to touch them between the legs without knowing is a deliberate action. He gave two versions of events and said he was very concerned that this could prevent him from getting a UK visa and would destroy his life."
During the hearing Das' wife of 23 years said she had 'complete faith in her husband' and added: "I have had no concern. Until today I have faith in my husband and still today I have total faith in my husband."
Das' lawyer Miss Ellie Akhgar told the court: "This man has no previous convictions, so why would he now decide to take the plunge into criminality and sexually assault a stranger on a plane, with his wife sat next to him."
Das was granted conditional bail pending sentence on October 27.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
