Yahoo News Pick-up artist who left women 'mentally scarred' is jailed
A self-styled pick-up artist has been jailed for two years for leaving women “mentally scarred” by his threatening advances.
Adnan Ahmed, who called himself “Addy A-game”, was convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour for approaching several young women, causing them fear and alarm.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years after posting videos of himself approaching women on YouTube.
Glasgow Sheriff Lindsay Wood found there was a “significant sexual aspect” to the offences.
“Two schoolgirls were shamefully targeted by you in a quiet lane and the three other women were considerably younger than you,” the sheriff told Ahmed.
“Why on earth would you consider it appropriate to touch a complete stranger on the cheek and try to kiss them?”
He added: “You have acquired both notoriety and an unenviable reputation.
“Further, the public will be wise to such behaviour in future towards women by you and others like you.
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“The courts will always try to keep abreast of developing criminal trends which cause public disquiet, concern and even outrage and will take appropriate steps to tackle these.”
He praised Ahmed’s victims for giving evidence, adding: “The mental scarring won’t leave in a hurry but they will be fortified that by giving evidence of what really happened you will be held to account.”
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard one woman was aged 21 when he approached her in the street, made comments about her appearance, touched her cheek and tried to kiss her, leading to her pushing him away.
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He approached two schoolgirls, aged 16 and 17, asked the older one if she was at school, if she was married and if she wanted to meet for coffee.
He also approached two other women in the street, with all the offences taking place between 2016 and 2019 in Glasgow city centre and Uddingston.
Ahmed, of Glasgow, disputed his actions were unlawful and in evidence accused his victims of lying or misconstruing him.
His lawyer Donna Armstrong later told he court heard he had not intended to cause fear and alarm.
Ahmed was found guilty earlier this year by majority verdict following an eight-day trial.
The court heard Ahmed had previous convictions, including for drink-driving and a firearms charge, and had previously been jailed seven times – the longest for two years and three months.
He has been in custody since January for the current case and his two-year sentence was backdated.
