Footballer jailed after sexually assaulting woman while she was sleeping
Salim Kouider-Aïssa has been jailed for two years after carrying out a sex attack on a sleeping woman.
The Scottish League One footballer assaulted the 23-year-old woman in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, on 31 October 2021.
Kouider-Aïssa stripped to his boxers in bed and touched the woman inappropriately before going on to sexually assault her. The former Airdrie forward claimed that he went into bed to "get a good sleep" and believed the woman was awake.
The 27-year-old was sacked by Airdrie after he was convicted back in May. His dismissal also occurred following their Championship play-off final win over Hamilton Academical, although he didn't play in the second leg.
Salim Kouider-Aissa in action for Queens Park (Jeff Holmes/REX/Shutterstock)Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC said: "Prior to this conviction you held a position that many can only dream of. That position, status and reward is now lost to you and you recognise that.
"These are lost to you because of the decision you took that morning. I recognise your defence has been eloquently put by your lawyer that you were someone who had the reasonable belief she was consenting. That defence was rejected by the jury and it is not difficult to understand why.
She woke up to find herself being sexually assaulted by a man she barely knew in a horrific fashion. You stand convicted of this horrible serious offence. I’m satisfied there is not alternative to a custodial sentence."
The court heard the woman met Kouider-Aïssa at a friend's flat after a night out and went to a spare bedroom at 5am. She said: "I woke up and I could feel someone behind me, that's when I realised what he was doing."
The woman then said Kouider-Aïssa intimately touched her, before she shouted at the footballer.
She added: "I woke up really shocked, I went into bed myself and was shocked to have someone behind me. I was shouting 'What are you doing' and he said 'I thought you were awake, what have I done?' It wouldn't matter if I was, as there was no consent."
Graeme Brown, defending, told the hearing: "His profession as a professional football player was terminated upon his conviction. Because of this conviction, it will be extremely unlikely that he will be able to play football at that level again."
Kouider-Aïssa started his senior career at Stenhousemuir, before going on to play for Queen of the South, Stirling Albion, Lenzie Thistle, Kilsyth Rangers, Queen's Park, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians, Airdrie and Stranraer.
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