Court refuses appeal against seven-year sentence for sexual offences

A man convicted of 13 sexual offences has been refused permission to appeal his seven-year prison sentence.

Zakaria Laaraj was handed the sentence in May 2025 after being convicted of assaulting two girls, who were aged 10 and 13 when the abuse began.

He was also made subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order - placing restrictions on his behaviour in order to prevent future offences.

His application for permission to appeal that order has also been refused.

Zakaria Laaraj was convicted of sexual offences involving two girls, referred to in court as Miss X and Miss Y.

The offences against Miss X included kissing and sexually touching her, while those involving Miss Y included entering a room where she was sleeping and touching her breasts.

Laaraj was sentenced to seven years in prison - five-and-a-half years for the lead offence involving Miss X, with other sentences running concurrently, and a separate 18-month sentence involving Miss Y running consecutively.

He sought permission to appeal, arguing that the sentencing judge had failed to properly apply the “totality” principle - that the overall sentence for multiple offences should be just and proportionate.

Chief Justice Anthony Dudley rejected the argument, finding that the judge had properly considered the totality of the offending. He said the offences against the two victims amounted to distinct criminal conduct.

The court ruled that the seven-year sentence was neither wrong in principle nor manifestly excessive and refused permission to appeal.

Laaraj also challenged a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, arguing it was excessive because he had been assessed as being at low risk of reoffending.

The court rejected that argument, finding no arguable basis that the order was wrong in principle or manifestly excessive.

Either party has seven days to notify the Registrar if they wish to pursue the matter further.

If you have been the victim of abuse, you can contact the RGP on 200 72500 or report online.