A MIGRANT has been found guilty of sexually assaulting three women while cycling home from work to his asylum hotel.
Qais Al-Aswad, 26, committed the heinous attacks over a three-week period along the same bike path in Horley, Surrey.
Ray CollinsAnalysis of his mobile phone put Qais Al-Aswad in the area at the time, Staines Magistrates’ Court heard[/caption]
It follows a large protest outside the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel near Gatwick Airport on Saturday August 2gatwick-airporthotels.com
The first woman had left a pub with her mum before he approached her from behind and “slapped her bottom” around 9pm on May 23.
He approached a second woman from behind and “grabbed hold and squeezed her bottom” around 9pm on June 4.
Al-Aswad passed a third woman on his bicycle and “grabbed her crotch and vaginal area” around 10.45am on June 12.
CCTV showed the migrant wearing distinctive jackets, trainers and an Air Jordan rucksack while riding the purple pedal bike.
Al-Aswad was arrested on June 19 and the same clothing was recovered during a search of his room at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Horley.
All three victims, whose identities are protected after being sexually attacked near a Waitrose car park, bravely gave evidence today at his trial.
The first woman, aged in her 30s, said: “Out of nowhere, a guy cycled very closely past me and he slapped my bum and said excuse me as he did so.
“I didn’t see his face. He was wearing a camouflage jacket.
“I was shocked. This has never happened to me before. It also made me feel violated that someone thought they could touch me inappropriately.”
The second victim, aged in her 50s, said: “I was walking along when all of a sudden there was a gentleman next to me on a bike who grabbed my left bum cheek and then cycled off.
“I was shocked so I shouted out a couple of swear words. The cyclist turned around and looked at me.
“I stook my finger up, he did the same back to me and smiled before cycling off.”
The third woman, aged in her 20s, said: “As the cyclist went past me, they reached down and touched my vagina. I turned around and shouted at them.
“They turned around and looked at me and kissed the hand that they had just touched my vagina with.
“I was shaken up instantly. It all happened incredibly quickly so I was caught off guard and just wanted to get back to my partner and daughter.”
Al-Aswad was caught on camera wearing the same matching clothing as shown in the CCTV capturing all three attacks.
Analysis of his mobile phone also put him in the area at the time, Staines Magistrates’ Court heard.
Alan Balneaves, prosecuting, said: “It’s identification through clothing, same bicycle, similar route, cell site analysis and of course the same mode of assaulting each person.”
In a police interview, Al-Aswad confirmed he was working for an Albanian man at a car wash near London Bridge.
He would leave his four-star hotel around 5.40am before returning by train and on his charity-gifted bike around 9pm.
The tracksuited migrant denied three counts of sexual assault by touching, claiming he was working with his cousins at the time of the offences.
He also claimed the man in the CCTV wasn’t him by suggesting his friends had access to his clothes and bike too.
Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, he pleaded: “I haven’t done anything wrong.
“I haven’t assaulted any women and I haven’t kissed anyone.
“I left my country. I left my wife and kids in the camp and I seek safety in this country.”
District Judge Julie Cooper found him guilty of all three offences and remanded him in custody at HMP Wandsworth for sentencing on October 1.
It follows a large protest outside the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel near Gatwick Airport on Saturday August 2.
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