A 27-year-old Eritrean migrant staying in a posh taxpayer-funded hotel near Heathrow has dodged jail after attacking a police officer who woke him up on a bus.
Migrant Assaults Police at Heathrow Bus Station
Tesfya Selmone, who sneaked into the UK on a tiny boat, was caught sleeping on a bus at Heathrow Central Bus Station on September 25. Officers found him asleep on the upper deck’s front seat, but things quickly turned nasty when they asked him to leave.
Rather than cooperate, Selmone clung to the bus handles and railings in a bid to resist the officers. Then, things escalated.
Spitting and Punching Emergence Worker
Prosecutor Ravinder Chodha told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court: “After a short while the defendant turned towards PC Awais Alyas and spat at him, also hitting him on his hand and left leg.” Selmone admitted assaulting an emergency worker after spitting and punching the officer.
Community Order, No Jail, No Compensation
Despite the assault, Selmone skipped jail. Speaking through an Amharic interpreter, he only confirmed his personal details in court. Magistrate Rangeet Kaur handed down a one-year community order with 60 hours of unpaid work.
No compensation was awarded to PC Alyas, who described the attack as “foul and disgusting,” due to Selmone’s “limited means.” The officer, still shaken, said: “I was shocked. I instinctively grabbed his head and pushed it down. I felt violated. Spitting in particular is a foul and disgusting offence.”
Too Soft?
Is dodging jail and no compensation a slap on the wrist for migrants housed at public expense who attack police?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
