Refugee jailed for sex attacks on two women in Falkirk

A "predatory" refugee who sexually assaulted two women has been sentenced to four years in jail.

Muhammad Sheikhi, 23, targeted his victims in Falkirk during the early hours of 30 November 2025.

Sheikhi had been staying at the Scottish town's Hotel Cladhan at the time of his attacks.

He preyed on the first woman at a railway bridge on Kerse Lane, where he hugged her, repeatedly kissed her on the face and mouth, and put his hands under her skirt.

Sheikhi then sexually assaulted a second woman in Kerse Lane and the nearby Bellsmeadow skate park, where he pinned her against a tree before putting his hands under her clothing.

The women, who were in their early 20s, had both been walking home alone after nights out in the town centre.

Sheriff Keith O'Mahony stated: "In my assessment, these [offences] were not a spontaneous act. These were deliberate and predatory sexual assaults against strangers who had every right to walk home in safety."

Sheikhi denied any wrongdoing and told police he had just been "roaming around" as he did not have anyone to socialise with in his hotel.

He was found guilty of both charges in May following a four-day trial at Stirling Sheriff Court.

It was originally alleged Sheikhi had also intended to rape one of the women, but the jury deleted that part of the charge.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Jamie Hilland said Sheikhi had acted in a "predatory manner" towards the two women.

He noted the "compelling similarities" between the two crimes, stating: "On their evidence, the accused approached both women, he's tried to give them his phone. He tried to get them to add him on Snapchat.

"In both cases he's tried to corner the complainer and he then sexually assaulted both of them."

Mr Hilland said Sheikhi's actions left both women "distressed", highlighting a phone call one of them made to her father following the assault.

"[Her father] said she could hardly talk, she could hardly breathe. It was the point where he was struggling to understand her," the prosecutor said.

"She told him she had been sexually assaulted at the railway bridge by a man who put his hand under her skirt and tried to kiss her."

Read more from Sky News:
Man, 18, dies after getting into difficulty in sea
Flight cancelled as child refuses to sit down

Sheikhi was sentenced on Monday.

Paul Keenan, defending Sheikhi, said his client was a Syrian refugee who had fled the "terror of ISIS" and continued to maintain his innocence.

As well as the prison sentence, Sheikhi was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned from contacting his victims for 10 years.

Procurator Fiscal Helen Nisbet said: "Muhammad Sheikhi targeted two young women who were simply trying to get home safely, and subjected them to deeply distressing sexual assaults.

"These were deliberate acts against two victims who were alone and vulnerable. Their courage in coming forward has enabled him to be held accountable for his crimes."

(c) Sky News 2026: Refugee jailed for sex attacks on two women in Falkirk