Qais Al-Aswad, 26, a Syrian asylum seeker, escaped prison despite sexually assaulting three women in Surrey. His brazen acts included grabbing a woman’s pelvis and blowing her a mocking kiss.
Shocking Assaults Spark Public Outrage
The attacks happened in Horley between May and June this year while Al-Aswad stayed at a taxpayer-funded hotel in Surrey converted for asylum seekers.
One victim told the court she was shopping when Al-Aswad grabbed her pelvis. After she swore at him, he blew her a kiss, showing sheer contempt for her distress.
“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.”
Another victim said she was “shocked, upset and angry” after he grabbed her bottom, noting his disturbing smile and profanity in response to her outrage.
Lenient Suspended Sentence Sparks Fury
At Staines Magistrates’ Court, Al-Aswad received a six-month custody sentence suspended for two years — meaning no jail time unless he reoffends.
One victim summed it up: “He claimed to seek safety and happiness, yet stripped that from us.”
With Al-Aswad wandering free on a monitoring tag, the case raises serious questions about Britain’s handling of criminal asylum seekers and the protection of women.
