Asylum Seeker Who Molested Three Women Walks Free – Public Outrage Erupts
Qais Al-Aswad, 26, a Syrian asylum seeker, sexually assaulted three women in Surrey – then dodged prison. The shocking attacks included him grabbing a woman’s pelvis and blowing her a mocking kiss. Yet, despite the glaring evidence, Al-Aswad was handed a suspended sentence, sparking fury across the nation.
Horley Horror: Victims Speak Out
The incidents unfolded between May and June this year in Horley. Al-Aswad was staying at a taxpayer-funded hotel converted for asylum seekers when he attacked.
One victim told the court:
“What upsets me the most is how someone claiming to seek safety and happiness feels entitled to take those away from me and other women.”
She revealed how he grabbed her pelvis while she shopped. When she swore at him, he responded by blowing a mocking kiss, showing blatant contempt.
Another woman described feeling “shocked, upset and angry” after he grabbed her bottom. She recalled his disturbing smile and profanity in response to her outrage.
Lenient Sentence Sparks Storm of Criticism
At Staines Magistrates’ Court, Al-Aswad was given a six-month custody sentence – but it was suspended for two years. That means no jail time unless he reoffends. The judge admitted the victims suffered psychological damage, with one now too afraid to walk with headphones. Yet, prison time was still denied.
- 40 days of rehabilitation activity
- 200 hours of unpaid work
- Sexual harm prevention order with GPS-tracking tag
- Banned from using public bicycles or scooters unless tracked
Al-Aswad claimed his attacks were due to faulty bicycle brakes – forcing him to grab the women to avoid crashing. Victims attending court were left shaking their heads at the excuse.
Anti-Immigrant Protests Erupt Outside Horley Hotel
Following his conviction on 20 August, around 200 angry protesters turned up outside the Horley hotel. Their anger focuses on:
- Asylum seekers committing sexual offences
- Taxpayer-funded accommodation for offenders
- Shockingly lenient suspended sentences
- Failure to deport convicted criminals
Al-Aswad arrived from Turkey less than a year before the assaults, fleeing Syria after his home was bombed in 2018. Despite multiple victims, he showed no remorse, speaking only through an interpreter to confirm his identity.
Justice System Accused of Letting Predators Off the Hook
Critics warn the suspended sentence highlights a two-tier justice system where asylum seekers get lighter treatment. The brave victims who faced the court now live with trauma inflicted by a man who openly mocked their pain.
“He claimed to seek safety and happiness, yet stripped that from us,” one victim said.
With Al-Aswad roaming free under monitoring, this case raises urgent questions about Britain’s handling of dangerous asylum seekers and protecting women on UK soil.
