A 26-year-old Syrian asylum seeker has averted instant jail regardless of being convicted of sexually assaulting three ladies in Horley earlier this yr.
Qais Al-Aswad appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Courtroom on Wednesday, receiving a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years.
District Decide Julie Cooper acknowledged throughout sentencing that the victims had suffered psychological trauma on account of the assaults.
"I settle for that these girls have suffered psychological hurt," the decide acknowledged.
The assaults happened in Could and June whereas Al-Aswad was staying on the 4 Factors by Sheraton Resort in Horley.
His conviction in August sparked a robust public response, with round 200 anti-immigration demonstrators gathering exterior his lodging.
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The courtroom heard how Al-Aswad focused his victims whereas biking by way of Horley. One lady described how he grabbed her pelvis whereas she was purchasing.
After she swore at him following the assault, he reportedly blew her a kiss.
“What upsets me probably the most about this entire incident is how a person who himself claims to be in search of security and happiness feels he has the precise to take away those self same issues from myself and different ladies,” she instructed the courtroom.
One other sufferer recounted being grabbed on her backside by Al-Aswad.
The defendant, who required an Arabic interpreter all through the proceedings, provided explanations that had been met with seen scepticism from the 2 victims current within the public gallery.
Al-Aswad claimed he was "unaware of British legal guidelines" concerning bodily contact and blamed faulty brakes on his bicycle for the incidents.
He argued he had touched the ladies whereas trying to manoeuvre round them to keep away from a collision.
The victims shook their heads because the decide relayed these claims.
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The courtroom was instructed Al-Aswad had escaped Syria in 2018 following the bombing of his residence and entered Britain from Turkey in 2024.
The sentence included 40 days of rehabilitation actions and 200 hours of group service. Al-Aswad should put on an digital monitoring tag repeatedly as a part of a sexual hurt prevention order.
The courtroom imposed strict situations on his use of any bicycle or scooter in public areas, together with parks.
He’s prohibited from using such autos until they’re outfitted with GPS monitoring capabilities that may file his location and route repeatedly.
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