A “sexual predator” dinghy migrant who groped and tried to kiss a terrified 20-year-old student on a packed commuter train faces just weeks behind bars before walking free – after brazenly flashing her a thumbs up as he scarpered. Iraqi national Hawre Mohamed, 27, of Bonehurst Road, Horley, Surrey, was on Monday jailed for eight months at Croydon Magistrates’ Court after a British Transport Police (BTP) probe exposed his vile attack on the Thameslink service between Horley and Redhill.
But with four months already clocked up on remand since his October arrest, the shameless sex offender – who crossed the Channel in a small boat just months before the assault – could be released on licence as early as February, allowing him to press on with his taxpayer-funded asylum bid.
But with four months already clocked up on remand since his October arrest, the shameless sex offender – who crossed the Channel in a small boat just months before the assault – will be released on licence as early as February, allowing him to press on with his taxpayer-funded asylum bid.
The court heard how, at around 8.30pm on September 22, Mohamed – who had been housed at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel near Gatwick Airport at public expense – slimed up to his lone victim at Horley station, asking for help with the ticket barrier.
CCTV caught the smirking predator chatting her up before he boarded her train and stalked her down the carriage, ignoring empty seats to plonk himself next to the college student, who was trapped by the window.
As the train rattled towards Redhill, Mohamed bombarded her with sleazy questions, asking: “Where do you live? Do you have a partner?” before squeezing her thigh, draping an arm over her shoulder and lunging in for a forced kiss.
The horrified woman batted him away, begging him to stop, but he groped her thigh again and sneered: “I don’t go for below 18.” She fled at Redhill, dashing to station staff and BTP officers to report the ordeal.
District Judge Nicola Fleck branded Mohamed’s behaviour “simply vile,” telling the grey-tracksuit-clad defendant – aided by a Kurdish Sorani interpreter – that his victim “felt violated, that she had lost her dignity at that moment.”
The judge added, noting how the woman had been unable to escape his unwanted advances: “She is frightened about using trains, which she regularly does.” She continued: “You continue to deny the offence, you have no insight into your offending and you are seen as at high risk of re-offending in relation to sexual offences.”
Mohamed, who insisted to cops “I haven’t done anything wrong” and claimed he chatted up “many females that day” because he was “looking for a female,” even alleged at trial that she “wanted sex.”
His cocky getaway merely rubbed salt in the wound: after shoving through Crawley station’s barriers post-assault, he shot her a mocking thumbs up, lounged on a bench, then hopped a northbound train.
BTP officers nailed him days later on patrol in East Croydon, spotting his distinctive jacket from the attack. He was nicked and held in custody ever since.
BTP Detective Constable Geraldine Devaney hailed the victim’s “courage and support” for landing the predator behind bars, but fury erupted over his cushy early exit.
Devaney said: “This sexual predator preyed on a woman travelling alone and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”She urged the public: “If you experience or witness a sexual offence on board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016. We take all reports seriously and can respond immediately to trace sexual offenders like Mohamed and bring them to justice.”
The case – first revealed by The Sun – has ignited outrage over soft-touch sentencing for Channel crossers, with critics slamming the system for prioritising asylum claims over public safety.
Mohamed must now sign the sex offenders’ register for a decade, but his looming release leaves the victim – and commuters – fearing for what comes next.
