Northampton hotel porter who sexually assaulted woman has sentence tripled

A hotel porter has had his sentence tripled following an intervention by the Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.

On 28 January 2018, Zeshan Akhtar, 39, and the victim attended a work Christmas party. When the victim returned to the hotel to sleep, Akhtar, who was on duty as the night porter at the hotel, entered her room and sexually assaulted her.

After failing to answer bail, Akhtar was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 3 April 2021 attempting to board a flight to Pakistan.

On 24 June 2021, Akhtar was convicted of sexual assault and failing to surrender and sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment at Northampton Crown Court.

Following the Court’s decision, the Solicitor General referred Akhtar’s case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On 18 August 2021, the Court found his sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 3 years and 1 month’s imprisonment.

After the hearing at the Court of Appeal the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP, said:

Akhtar abused his position as a night porter in a hotel to break into the victim’s room and sexually assault her. He then sought to escape justice by attempting to flee the country. I am glad the Court of Appeal saw fit to increase his sentence and I hope today’s decision offers some comfort to his victim.