Sophan Akbash has been charged with nine counts of sexual assault after police said seven women were separately assaulted in and around the University of Huddersfield within 30 minutes. The immediate public-interest task is to keep the focus on those reportedly harmed while allowing the criminal case to proceed without treating a charge as a verdict.
West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the university on Tuesday evening after reports that a man had approached and sexually touched women. The force said Akbash, 29, from Huddersfield, is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court.
The scheduled court appearance is the next formal step in the case. The BBC report does not give the outcome of any hearing, the detailed circumstances of each alleged offence, a plea, or a response from legal representatives. The prosecution will have to prove the charges in court.
The scale described by police makes survivor support and practical safeguarding central public concerns. Where several women are reported to have been assaulted in a short period around a university, institutions should give affected people clear routes to support and communicate responsibly with the campus community. Prof Tim Thornton, the university's deputy vice-chancellor, said it was working closely with police and that the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors were its highest priority.
That cooperation should be measured against the support and clear information available to those affected. The evidence supplied does not set out the university's current safety measures, so no specific change on campus can be reported.
Police have brought nine sexual-assault charges, and a magistrates' court appearance is due. Public discussion should neither minimise the reported harm nor pre-empt the court's decision.
Sources
- BBC UK · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13