A sleazy postman who hounded four women during his rounds has avoided a jail sentence. Irfan William delivered letters in Glasgow's southside, where he took advantage to harass his victims with unwanted advances.
The 49-year-old was reported to the Royal Mail twice - but it was only after he forced himself on one woman that police were alerted. William pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to three charges of stalking and one sexual assault.
The crimes spanned between January 2015 and March 2022. On Tuesday, Sheriff Paul Reid ordered William to do 180 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for three years.
William was also tagged for five months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am. A non-harassment order against the victims was granted for three years and William remains on the sex offender register.
The sheriff told him: “As far as these matters are concerned, I can advise you that if you appeared before me with a conviction, I would have had no hesitation sending you to prison.”
The earlier hearing was told how William pestered one woman after learning she had given evidence in a court case. He would also knock on her door to make deliveries to attract her attention rather than simply put them through the letterbox.
Creepy William would also go to a cafe in Glasgow's Govanhill where this victim often spent time. Prosecutor Jeremy O’Neill said: “He would buy coffee, sit at the table and stare at her."
The woman eventually stopped going there believing William's behaviour was "predatory". Mr O'Neill went on: "She said that William's actions were definitely a contributing factor in deciding to move house as that is how much he scared her."
The court heard how William pounced on another woman at her home in the city's Battlefield after asking could he come in for a cigarette. He said he had also brought lunch - the victim allowed him in.
After showing that he had brought her pizza and juice, William claimed that he “did not know if he was imposing.” William then asked personal questions about her sex life and if she was married. He told her: "You are my distraction."
William made remarks about the woman's appearance before grabbing her around the stomach and rubbing her arm. Fiscal Mr O'Neill said: “She felt frozen with fear…she walked towards the front door.
“William grabbed her shoulders from behind but she continued to walk and broke free from him. He opened his arms and embraced the woman with a hug. He put his hand on her face and forcefully kissed her cheek.”
A third woman was probed about her relationships. The postie, of Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire, would also insist on chapping the door claiming it was "difficult to push letters through".
This spooked victim had to pretend she had a husband - she even got an ex-partner to answer one time to avoid William. The court heard of the other victim who William spoke to about literature stating to her: "You are always buying books."
Calling the woman by her name, he also asked her about her husband. Mr O'Neill said: "He told her that he would bring round books and coffee and discuss literature but the woman asked him not to do so."
Two of the women contacted Royal Mail after what happened to them. However, William was only arrested after the final incident when he kissed that victim.
Douglas McAllister, defending, told the court that the dad-of-two lost his latest job at Amazon following his conviction. The lawyer added: “He fully accepts the distress and discomfort that his behaviour caused to those involved.
“He has also expressed sincere regret towards his actions on the vulnerable young woman.”
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