'Scared' and 'petrified' women describe alleged early-morning attacks - Jersey Evening Post
by Megan Davies · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
‘Scared’ and ‘petrified’ women describe alleged early-morning attacks
by Megan Davies 16 July 202615 July 2026
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TWO women told the Royal Court they were left “scared” and “petrified” after being approached by a stranger in town on a Sunday morning – allegations the man claims were the result of misunderstandings.
Abdelkarim Arfaoui (27) is on trial accused of one count of attempted rape, one count of grave and criminal assault, five counts of sexual touching without consent, two counts of assault and one count of threatening and abusive behaviour.
The court heard that he allegedly pursued a woman he had been walking with and “begged” her for sex. When she refused, he is accused of forcibly kissing her, strangling her, touching her breasts, tackling her to the ground and attempting to rape her.
Prosecutors allege that after the attack, Mr Arfaoui went on to approach four other women as they walked to work or the gym, threatening and assaulting some of them, and kissing and groping them without their consent.
The second woman to be allegedly approached by Mr Arfaoui gave evidence in the Royal Court yesterday. She told jurors that she was “absolutely petrified”.
The woman said she saw a man walking up the road in the same direction as her, as she walked in the middle of the road because it was better-lit.
She said Mr Arfaoui started speaking quietly in a language she didn’t understand. She added that when he moved his hand near his fly, she started to run.
CCTV showed the woman running down a street, and then a man running behind her 24 seconds later. The woman said she was “shocked” to see Mr Arfaoui running.
Advocate Greg Herold-Howes, defending, put to the woman that while she was scared, she did not know the man’s intentions and had made an “assumption driven by fear”.
“Mr Arfaoui says that all he was trying to do was to approach you to ask for directions,” the advocate said.
The woman said she “wouldn’t know” if he had asked her for directions.
Advocate Herold-Howes added that Mr Arfaoui then realised the woman was “frightened” and he left.
The third woman allegedly approached by Mr Arfaoui also gave evidence yesterday afternoon.
She was emotional as she recalled a normal walk to work before she encountered Mr Arfaoui.
The woman said that Mr Arfaoui put his hands on her shoulders and said something in a language she didn’t understand. She recalled pushing the man away and telling him to leave her alone.
“He put his hands up and said ‘sorry’ in English,” the woman said.
She said the same man approached her again, and she warned him: “Leave me alone.”
“He started running towards me. I got scared,” she added. “I was scared because I didn’t know what he would do.”
She said she could not find anyone to help and could not run away because of a sore foot.
The woman told the court: “He grabbed me with his hands and pinned me against the car. He was stronger than me and he was holding my hands in a way that I couldn’t do anything.
“I pleaded with him to leave me alone but he didn’t. He was kissing the left side of my face. He was forcing himself on me. He repeated a few times ‘I love you’ in English.”
She recalled thinking it was “strange”, adding: “Why would you tell someone you love them if you have never seen them before in your life?”
The woman continued: “I couldn’t fight him off. I started screaming as loud as I could. I was screaming, ‘someone help me, help me.’
“He wanted to shut me up. He punched the left side of my face. I screamed even louder.”
The woman said she was shaking and was in such shock that she could not remember the phone number for emergency services. Her coworkers later helped her call the police.
Advocate Herold-Howes said that Mr Arfaoui accepted that he approached the third woman, but claims that he lost his balance whilst intoxicated and he fell into her.
The defence advocate said the incident was “a misunderstanding”, adding: “He denies deliberately kissing you. You interpreted the actions of a heavily intoxicated man as a deliberate act.”
The woman disagreed with him.
Two more alleged victims are due to give evidence in the trial, which continues today.
Commissioner Alan Binnington is presiding.
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