Mostaf Abdiraham Ali has ‘no remorse’ for St Kilda sexual assault of teenager

A man who plied a 14-year-old with alcohol before locking her in a toilet cubicle and assaulting her was more concerned about himself than his victim, a court has heard.

Mostaf Abdiraham Ali has faced court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager. Picture: File

A man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old in a Melbourne toilet cubicle for half an hour has “no remorse” for his abhorrent offending, a court has heard.

Mostaf Abdiraham Ali, 30, faced County Court from custody on Friday after pleading guilty in May to charges of false imprisonment, sexual assault, and common law assault.

Ali was due to appear at court in person but, as the court heard – though his lawyer found it unlikely – he refused to be transported from the Metropolitan Remand Centre.

Ali’s offending was outlined at his last hearing: he had been partying for two days and was heavily intoxicated in Melbourne’s CBD on January 1, 2022 when he gave a 14-year-old alcohol and eventually forced her into a St Kilda toilet cubicle, locking the door.

Ali, 26 at the time, pushed the girl – who had told him she was 16 – against a wall and choked and kissed her.

Ali slapped the teenager four times while he sexually assaulted her.

The incident lasted about half an hour.

Ali was intoxicated on New Year’s Day 2022. Picture: File

On Friday, Judge Pardeep Tiwana said it would have been a “frightening experience” for the young girl.

Nevertheless, the court heard Ali had “no remorse” and in a psychological evaluation had focused more on the consequences for himself than on showing empathy for his victim.

Ali’s lawyer Christopher Pearson said his client “doesn’t necessarily embrace the offending in its full flourish”.

“However, he does indicate that he, on reflection, didn’t do things the way they should have been done and regrets his lack of insight in relation to how he should have handled the matter,” Mr Pearson said.

He said Ali had “the capacity to behave himself and to make a contribution” in part due to his lack of criminal record – although the court heard Ali had since been fined for dishonesty and breaching his bail.

Mr Pearson suggested his client be given a jail sentence of no more than 12 months, to be followed by a community corrections order.

But prosecution lawyer Craig McConaghy said Ali should receive a head sentence with a non-parole period given the seriousness of his crimes.

Judge Tiwana agreed with Mr McConaghy.

Ali will be sentenced in August. Picture: File

The court heard Ali was born in Yemen, spent time in an Egyptian refugee camp, and travelled to New Zealand before coming to Australia about six years ago, where he does not have citizenship.

At one point he worked at a warehouse, but has been itinerant and recently has had drug abuse problems.

In prison he was “Shanghaied down to the slot” – that is, solitary confinement – for getting into an argument or fight.

Ali was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on August 18.

He has spent 91 days in custody so far and will be on the sex offenders’ registration list for eight years.