An asylum seeker who sexually assaulted three women has avoided jail despite his brazen behaviour that included blowing a kiss at one victim after grabbing her pelvis.
Qais Al-Aswad, 26, originally from Syria, lived at a hotel in Surrey when he sexually assaulted the women in Horley in May and June this year.
He was sentenced at Staines Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to six months in custody, suspended for two years – meaning he will serve no prison time unless he reoffends.
Following Al-Aswad’s conviction on 20 August, around 200 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the hotel in Horley where he had been accommodated at taxpayer expense.
Grabbed Woman’s Pelvis, Blew Kiss
A victim impact statement was read out to the court from one of his victims, who had been shopping in the town centre when Al-Aswad grabbed her by her pelvis.
She said: “What upsets me the most about this whole incident is how an individual who himself claims to be seeking safety and happiness, feels he has the right to remove those same things from myself and other women.”
The court heard that when the victim swore at the defendant after he assaulted her, he blew a kiss at her in a display of contempt for her distress.
“Frustrated at the Arrogance”
“Following the incident I was left feeling frustrated at the arrogance of the person who committed the assault,” the victim continued.
“As well as upset that they think they’re able to do things like this to people who are just minding their own business. I also felt, and still do feel, very disgusted by their actions.”
Her powerful statement captures the violation experienced by women sexually assaulted by someone claiming to seek refuge in Britain.
Flanked by Security Guard
The defendant, who wore a prison-issue grey tracksuit in the dock and was flanked by a security guard, spoke only to confirm his personal details and that he understood the conditions of his sentence through an Arabic interpreter.
Al-Aswad showed no apparent remorse or emotion during the sentencing hearing.
Fled Syria in 2018
The court heard Al-Aswad fled Syria in 2018 after his home had been bombed.
He arrived in the UK from Turkey in 2024, meaning he had been in Britain less than a year before sexually assaulting three women.
Claimed “Faulty Bicycle Brakes”
In interview with probation, the defendant claimed he was unfamiliar with UK laws regarding physical contact and suggested the brakes on his bicycle were faulty, the court heard.
Al-Aswad claimed he touched the women as he tried to move them out of his way to avoid crashing into them.
Two of his victims, who sat in the public gallery to watch the sentencing, shook their heads when they heard this claim repeated by the judge.
Grabbed Woman’s Bottom
One of the female victims told the court she was “shocked, upset and angry” after the incident when he grabbed her bottom.
“I was upset and angry that the defendant felt it was ok to do this to me, and that he clearly didn’t care about the impact of his actions,” she told the court.
“This was particularly apparent when I swore at him after the assault, and he turned round to swear back at me with a smile on his face.”
The smiling response to his victim’s distress demonstrates contempt rather than cultural misunderstanding.
“Suffered Psychological Harm”
Before sentencing him, District Judge Julie Cooper told the defendant: “I accept that these ladies have suffered psychological harm.”
“One of them feels she can no longer walk with her headphones on and that deprives her of a relaxing part of her day, a walk home from work. These ladies I am sure will experience a state of heightened awareness for some time to come.”
The judge acknowledged the lasting impact on the victims whilst still deciding not to impose immediate custody.
Rehabilitation, Unpaid Work, Monitoring Tag
Al-Aswad was also sentenced to 40 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order whereby he has to wear a monitoring tag at all times.
He has been banned from using any bicycle or scooter in a public place, including parks, unless it has the ability to GPS track his location and route at all times.
The bicycle ban addresses his ridiculous claim that faulty brakes caused him to grab multiple women’s bodies.
Suspended Sentence Despite Multiple Victims
The decision to suspend Al-Aswad’s six-month sentence means he will serve no prison time despite sexually assaulting three different women on separate occasions.
A suspended sentence only activates if he reoffends within the two-year suspension period.
Cultural Differences Defence
Al-Aswad’s claim to be “unfamiliar with UK laws regarding physical contact” represents a common defence strategy for asylum seekers accused of sexual offences.
However, the claim rings hollow given:
- He assaulted three different women on separate occasions
- He blew a kiss at one victim after she objected
- He smiled whilst swearing back at another victim
- The deliberate nature of grabbing women’s pelvises and bottoms
200 Protesters Gathered
Following Al-Aswad’s conviction in August, around 200 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the hotel in Horley where he had been accommodated.
The demonstration reflects public anger at asylum seekers committing sexual offences whilst being housed at taxpayer expense.
Accommodated in Hotel
Al-Aswad lived at a hotel in Surrey that had been converted to asylum seeker accommodation when he committed the sexual assaults.
The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has proven controversial, with residents often complaining about antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.
Three Separate Victims
The fact Al-Aswad sexually assaulted three different women in May and June demonstrates a pattern of predatory behaviour rather than a single mistake.
Each assault was a conscious choice to violate a woman going about her daily business.
Victims’ Courage
Two victims attended court to witness the sentencing, demonstrating considerable courage given the trauma they experienced.
Their visible reaction to Al-Aswad’s absurd bicycle brake defence shows their contempt for his dishonest excuses.
Impact on Daily Life
One victim’s statement that she can no longer walk with headphones on captures how sexual assault steals women’s freedom and sense of safety.
A simple walk home from work—something she previously found relaxing—has become a source of anxiety and heightened vigilance.
“Heightened Awareness”
Judge Cooper’s acknowledgment that the victims will experience “heightened awareness for some time to come” recognises the lasting psychological damage.
Yet this understanding didn’t translate into immediate custody for someone who violated three women.
Sexual Harm Prevention Order
The sexual harm prevention order and monitoring tag impose some restrictions on Al-Aswad’s freedom.
However, these measures don’t compare to the trauma inflicted on three women who must now live with the memory of being sexually assaulted by a man smiling at their distress.
Deportation Questions
The article doesn’t mention whether Al-Aswad faces deportation proceedings following his conviction.
As an asylum seeker convicted of multiple sexual assaults, he should theoretically be removable, though Britain’s track record of deporting criminal asylum seekers proves abysmal.
“Seeking Safety and Happiness”
One victim’s observation that Al-Aswad claimed to seek “safety and happiness” yet removed those same things from his victims cuts to the heart of the matter.
Someone genuinely fleeing persecution and grateful for refuge doesn’t sexually assault women in their host country.
Public Anger
The 200-strong protest following Al-Aswad’s conviction reflects mounting public fury at:
- Asylum seekers committing sexual offences
- Lenient sentences for such crimes
- Taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation for criminals
- Failure to deport convicted offenders
Justice System Failures
The suspended sentence epitomises Britain’s two-tier justice system where:
- Native Britons face immediate custody for far less serious offences
- Asylum seekers receive suspended sentences despite multiple victims
- Cultural differences excuses are accepted despite obvious bad faith
- Victims’ trauma receives acknowledgment but no corresponding punishment
As three women live with the psychological harm of being sexually assaulted by a man who blew kisses and smiled at their distress, Qais Al-Aswad walks free with a monitoring tag and some unpaid work—a sentence that sends a devastating message about how little Britain values protecting women from predatory asylum seekers.
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