Key Points
- Police charged 33-year-old Mohammed Naeem of Coventry with sexual assault on a female and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- West Midlands Police investigated reports of several women being approached and having their hands kissed without consent.
- The reported incidents took place in public areas across Solihull town centre and Coventry city centre.
- Officers said the alleged approaches occurred over the past month.
- Naeem was due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
- Detectives asked any further victims or witnesses to contact police using official reporting lines.
Solihull (Birmingham Express) September 23, 2026 – A 33-year-old man from Coventry has been formally charged with sexual assault and breaching a court order following a police investigation into reports of women having their hands kissed without consent in Solihull and Coventry town and city centres.
As reported by Harry Leach, Senior Reporter for Birmingham Live and Coventry Live, West Midlands Police launched an inquiry after receiving multiple accounts of a man approaching women in public spaces and kissing their hands over the course of the past month. The suspect, identified as Mohammed Naeem, was subsequently detained and charged with sexual assault on a female alongside a count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He was scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
As reported by Harry Leach of Birmingham Live, an official spokesperson for West Midlands Police stated: “A man’s in court after we charged him as part of a sexual assault investigation in Coventry and Solihull. We’ve been investigating after a number of women were approached in Coventry city centre and Solihull town centre by a man who kissed their hand. We understand these incidents have all happened over the last month”.
The force spokesperson added: “As part of our enquiries, Mohammed Naeem, from Coventry, has been charged with sexual assault on a female and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The 33-year-old is due at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today”.
How are West Midlands Police urging the public to assist the investigation?
Detectives investigating the matter believe there may be further individuals who were subjected to similar unwanted approaches or who witnessed the alleged events in either Solihull or Coventry town centres.
As reported by Harry Leach of Birmingham Live, West Midlands Police appealed directly to the community: “We’re asking any witnesses or anyone this may have happened to, to please come forward”.
The police force highlighted that anyone with relevant information, CCTV footage, or eyewitness reports should contact law enforcement directly. Members of the public can call 101 or submit details via the Live Chat function on the West Midlands Police official website, referencing crime. Alternatively, information can be submitted anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Background of the particular development
This police inquiry and subsequent charge occur amidst heightened public discussion and police scrutiny regarding public space harassment and non-consensual physical contact targeting women in urban settings across the United Kingdom.
In recent years, UK law enforcement agencies and legal bodies have expanded their framework regarding non-consensual physical gestures in public. While touching or kissing someone’s hand without consent might historically have been treated as minor anti-social behaviour or low-level common assault, police forces increasingly treat non-consensual physical contact of a intimate or coercive nature as potential sexual offences, depending on the context and intent.
Furthermore, the secondary charge brought against the accused involves a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Under English law, SHPOs are civil orders applied for by police and granted by courts against individuals who have previously demonstrated behaviors or convictions associated with sexual harm.
A breach of an SHPO is considered a serious criminal offence under the Crime and Courts Act 2013, carrying potential penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment upon conviction in a Crown Court. The existence of an active SHPO indicates that the defendant was already subject to strict court-mandated conditions prohibiting specific behaviours or presence in certain areas to safeguard the public.
Prediction: How this development can affect town centre visitors and local communities
The swift intervention by West Midlands Police and the bringing of formal court charges are likely to have several distinct impacts on local shoppers, visitors, local businesses, and policing strategies across Solihull and Coventry:
- Impact on Women and Shoppers in Solihull and Coventry: The visible response from law enforcement serves to validate community concerns regarding boundary-crossing behavior in busy retail districts. Publicising the charges may encourage other individuals who felt uncomfortable or experienced similar unsolicited contact to report these incidents, thereby improving overall crime reporting accuracy in town centres.
- Impact on Local Retail and Night-time Economy: Public confidence in pedestrian areas, commercial zones, and shopping arcades relies heavily on feelings of personal safety and order. Prosecuting non-consensual approaches helps reassure shoppers and visitors that local town centres remain safe, monitored environments.
- Impact on Judicial Enforcement of SHPOs: This case highlights the role of civil court orders like SHPOs in monitoring high-risk individuals in public spaces. A successful prosecution for breaching an order demonstrates that judicial restrictions are actively enforced by police officers, which may deter similar violations by individuals under civil supervisory orders in the region.
