Arash Rezaei jailed for over two years for sexually abusing teenage girl

A married man who told a 15 year old he “does not wait for girls” kissed her at the restaurant he worked at before sexually abusing her.

A married predator who manipulated and sexually abused a teenage girl left her filled with shame and hatred.

Arash Rezaei, 27, is now behind bars as a judge commended the victim’s strength and resilience throughout the court process.

During sentencing this week, the District Court heard Rezaei, who was aged 23 at the time, told the 15-year-old victim he wanted to have sex with her.

“You told her that you do not wait for girls, but that you would wait for her and cannot wait until 2023,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said.

Arash Rezaei was jailed for sexually abusing a 15 year old girl. Photo: File

The court heard Rezaei kissed the victim at the restaurant he worked at.

Rezaei kissed her again at a later time, before he sexually abused her at his house the next day.

Rezaei, of Modbury North, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse, relating to the incident in July 2021.

In her victim impact statement, the victim said Rezaei was the first man to see her in a sexual way and that was not something she was ready for.

“She said her shame, hatred and discomfort fuelled her to starve herself,” Judge Kudelka said.

The victim’s father said Rezaei’s offending made him feel as if he had failed his daughter.

“He tells you that what you did was wrong and you had no right as an adult to betray the innocent trust and emotions of his daughter,” Judge Kudelka said.

The court heard Rezaei, who was born in Iran, was in a troubled marriage at the time of the offending and was stressed and depressed.

Rezaei, a hospitality worker, was sentenced to two years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and four months.

“You flirted with her, groomed and manipulated her,” Judge Kudelka said.

“She was entitled to be … free from sexual advances made by any adult, including a man who was eight years older than her.”

At the end of the sentence, Judge Kudelka commended the victim for her strength, courage and resilience throughout the court process.

“You might have wanted me to lock Mr Rezaei up for a longer time and throw away the key. I cannot do that,” she said.

“It might not seem a long time in jail compared to what you have been through, but jail is not a nice place to be.

“This offence will also be on his criminal record for the rest of his life.”

Originally published as Arash Rezaei jailed for over two years for sexually abusing teenage girl