Former Solomon Islands footballer convicted after telling 17-year-old victim he had ‘never been this close to a white woman’
An asylum seeker who was living on the Bibby Stockholm barge has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl on Weymouth beach after telling her he had “never been this close to a white woman”.
Moffat Konofilia, 48, was convicted by magistrates in Poole of one count of sexual assault following the incident on Weymouth seafront in December 2023. Sentencing has been adjourned for reports and he was released on bail.
The court heard that Konofilia, a former footballer for the Solomon Islands national team, had made a 10,000-mile journey to the UK from the Solomon Islands and was living on the controversial accommodation barge moored at Portland Port at the time of the offence.
The Incident
On the day of the assault, Konofilia took a bus from Portland into Weymouth, bringing beers to drink “as he often did”, the court was told. He sat next to a 17-year-old girl on the beach and began making comments about her appearance.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the court that Konofilia commented on the colour of her skin and said he had “never been this close to a white woman”, which made her feel uncomfortable.
Konofilia told the teenager he was in Weymouth on holiday, but he was actually residing on the Bibby Stockholm, the floating accommodation facility that housed asylum seekers while their claims were processed.
Recorded Evidence
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, the girl began secretly recording their conversation on her phone. The recording captured her saying “no, no” as Konofilia attempted to kiss her on the mouth, after which he apologised.
When the victim stood up to leave and walk home, Konofilia attempted to follow her. The court heard she managed to lose him by going down an alleyway.
Following the incident, the distressed teenager called a friend crying and asked them to meet her. She reported the assault to authorities the following day.
Defence Claims
During police interview, Konofilia claimed the girl had told him she was 18 years old and that he had wanted to help her. He denied kissing her, instead claiming he had put an arm around her to comfort her and that she had pulled away.
He also denied following her when she left the beach, contradicting the victim’s testimony.
Background and Current Status
Konofilia, whose mother tongue is Pijin – a common language in the Solomon Islands – speaks English and represented himself during proceedings. He told the court he had undergone two interviews for his asylum claim, which he said depended on the outcome of this criminal case.
Following his conviction, Konofilia now resides at Quadrant Hall in Coventry, a former university accommodation that was converted to house 100 asylum seekers.
The Solomon Islands are the seventh furthest country from the UK, located approximately 10,000 miles away in the South Pacific. There are currently no specific visa routes for Solomon Islanders to enter the UK to seek asylum, with Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea being the primary destinations for asylum seekers from the region.
The Bibby Stockholm
The Bibby Stockholm barge arrived at Portland Port in July 2023 and could house up to 500 asylum seekers while their claims were processed by the Home Office. The facility proved controversial throughout its operation, with concerns raised about conditions and the impact on the local community.
Following Labour’s general election victory in 2024, the new government announced plans to close the facility. The barge quietly left Portland Harbour in January 2025, ending what many viewed as one of the more contentious chapters in recent UK immigration policy.
Legal Implications
The conviction could have serious implications for Konofilia’s asylum claim. Under UK immigration law, foreign nationals convicted of certain criminal offences may face deportation or have their asylum claims refused.
The case has occurred against a backdrop of other criminal incidents involving Bibby Stockholm residents. Court records show several other former residents have been convicted of various offences, with some failing to appear for court hearings after the barge was vacated.
Konofilia’s sentencing date will be set following the preparation of pre-sentence reports. He remains on bail with conditions pending his sentencing hearing.
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Image Credit:
Bibby Stockholm, Falmouth Docks, 2023 – Photo by Jonathan Hutchins, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph / Wikimedia Commons.
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