A 27-year-old Sudanese national who entered Britain illegally has pleaded guilty to attempting to kidnap a teenage girl in a terrifying street attack that was thwarted by quick-thinking bus passengers in Swindon town centre.
Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam grabbed and dragged the 17-year-old victim across Fleming Way at approximately 9.30pm on 6 March whilst she was walking home from work, before members of the public intervened to stop the attack. The incident, captured on CCTV, has raised serious questions about monitoring foreign nationals who commit crimes after entering the UK without permission.
Adam, of Stanier Street, Swindon, admitted the attempted kidnap charge at Swindon Crown Court on 14 October and remains in custody awaiting sentencing on 12 December. The court heard he had arrived in Britain illegally via small boat in September 2023, just six months before the attack.
Terrifying Ordeal for Young Victim
The teenager was approached by Adam in Princes Street near Fleming Way as she made her way home from work on that Thursday evening in March. Despite her attempts to flag down passing vehicles for help, Adam persisted in following her whilst trying to engage her in unwanted conversation.
As the frightened girl crossed the road at traffic lights, Adam suddenly ran towards her, grabbed her from behind and forcibly dragged her back across the street. The assault only ended when passengers on a number 5 bus that had stopped at the lights witnessed the attack and rushed to intervene.
After fleeing the scene, Adam attempted to approach two more women. He tried engaging a second woman in conversation before she managed to escape, then followed a third woman who had witnessed the kidnap attempt, prompting further intervention from members of the public. Witnesses pursued Adam whilst filming him on their mobile phones before he eventually escaped on foot down Princes Street.
Previous Conviction for Illegal Entry
Court records reveal Adam had already been convicted of immigration offences before the kidnapping attempt. In November 2023, just two months after arriving in Britain, he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to entering the country “without valid entry clearance” and received a seven-month prison sentence.
After serving his sentence, Adam was released from prison. It remains unclear whether any conditions were attached to his release or if he had claimed asylum in Britain. The case highlights concerns about monitoring foreign nationals who enter the country illegally and subsequently commit crimes.
DC Anna McCormack from Swindon’s Criminal Investigation Department described it as a “terrifying incident for the victim” and praised her strength throughout the legal proceedings. “I’d also like to thank the various members of the public who assisted the victim at the time of the incident who potentially ensured that the incident wasn’t much worse than it was,” she said.
Manipulating the System
Adam’s case has been marked by repeated attempts to delay court proceedings, leading to at least eight separate hearings. He refused to leave his cell at HM Prison Bullingdon on multiple occasions and declined to board transport to attend court appearances.
The defendant also refused to engage with police officers or the court process before eventually entering his guilty plea. One judge suggested Adam was “manipulating the system” through his persistent non-cooperation.
Judge James Townsend, presiding at Swindon Crown Court, ordered a pre-sentence report to “assess the background to his offending” before sentencing next month. Adam’s refusal to engage with lawyers has caused significant delays and additional costs to the justice system.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Dale Sheehan emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating: “Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam preyed on a teenager while she was walking home, putting her through a distressing ordeal after he grabbed her from behind.”
He added: “Violence against women and girls will not be tolerated, and the Crown Prosecution Service is committed to ensuring those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.”
Rising Concerns Over Foreign National Offenders
The case comes amid growing public concern about foreign nationals who commit crimes in Britain. Latest Home Office statistics show that as of June 2023, there were 10,321 foreign nationals in prison in England and Wales out of a total prison population of 85,851.
Additionally, 11,769 foreign national offenders subject to deportation action were living in the community as of September 2022, representing a 192 per cent increase since 2012 according to Crown Prosecution Service figures.
The Home Office has pledged to increase deportations of foreign criminals. Between July 2024 and January 2025, removals of foreign national offenders rose by 21 per cent compared to the same period the previous year, with the government redeploying 1,000 staff to work on immigration enforcement.
A Home Office spokesperson responded to the case, stating: “When foreign nationals commit serious crimes in our country, we will always do everything in our power to deport them.
The government recently announced it had returned nearly 19,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and other immigration offenders since the July election, marking the highest rate of returns since 2018. This includes conducting the four biggest returns charter flights in UK history.
Community Response and Safety Concerns
The incident has sparked alarm amongst Swindon residents about safety in the town centre during evening hours, particularly for young people travelling alone. The Leonardo Hotel area where the bus stopped has been identified as the location where brave passengers intervened.
Wiltshire Police moved swiftly following the incident, with Adam arrested and charged after the victim’s mother reported the attack the same evening. The force has reassured the public that it takes such incidents “incredibly seriously” and praised the swift investigation that led to Adam being remanded in custody.
The case highlights the crucial role played by members of the public in preventing what could have been a far more serious incident. Their quick thinking and willingness to intervene potentially saved the teenager from abduction.
Adam faces a significant prison sentence when he appears for sentencing on 12 December. Given the serious nature of the offence and his previous conviction for illegal entry, deportation proceedings are likely to follow his sentence.
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