A man who admitted to sexual offences against three women in Southampton has today been jailed for three years.

While walking along Upper Shaftesbury Avenue, Portswood, in the early hours of Tuesday 25 November, last year, a woman was approached by Sohail Amiri.

Despite not knowing the woman, he started walking alongside her, telling her she was beautiful and asking for “just one kiss”.

After repeatedly being told no, Amiri, 30, an Afghan national who was living in Highfield Lane at the time, grabbed the woman’s wrist and attempted to force himself upon her.

Throughout the assault, she repeatedly told him no as he repeated the words “just one kiss”, before breaking free and fleeing for safety.

After receiving the report, local officers began enquiries in the area to track down CCTV, identify the movements of Amiri after the assault and trace him to his address, arrest him and seize the clothing he had been wearing at the time.

It was heard this work also led to identifying his involvement in another reported incident two months earlier.

Southampton Crown Court was told Amiri had approached a woman in Westwood Road, Bevois, on September 23, around 6.40am in the morning, asking for “just one kiss”, but she ignored him and continued walking.

When she arrived at work, she told a colleague about this, who said the same thing had happened to her, but that the man had also pushed her while saying the same phrase.

The court heard following a DNA match to saliva from the incident in Portswood and mobile phone data confirming his locations, among a number of other enquiries, Amiri was charged.

Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one of attempted sexual assault, and to entering the United Kingdom without leave.

And today he was jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court by Judge Nicholas Rowland. He was also handed a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after the hearing, DCI Michael Higgins, who oversaw the investigation, said: “Sohail Amiri’s behaviour was predatory, and created a great deal of fear and anxiety for all three women, who should be able to feel safe in their own community.

“Their courage and bravery throughout meant we have been able to present a case to the court which Amiri has had no choice but to plead guilty to.

“While nothing can undo what they have been through, I hope today’s sentencing brings a measure of reassurance to them, and to the public, that we take behaviour like this extremely seriously, and will do all we can to bring perpetrators to justice.”

District commander for Southampton, Superintendent Alex Charge added: “Following the assault in Portswood, our neighbourhood enforcement team’s dogged and tenacious attitude meant we were swiftly able to track Amiri’s movements, locate him and bring him into custody. Our investigation team then used all the available extensions to keep him there while we pulled together all the evidence required to obtain charges from the CPS.

“Ensuring Southampton’s streets not only are safe, but feel safe for all who live, work in and visit the city is the utmost priority for us, and we will not tolerate anyone who wants to target lone women in our communities.

“We have also been really clear that we police without fear or favour, and regardless of ethnicity or nationality, if you commit a crime then we will use all powers available to us to deal with you.”