AHMED AL-RAZAWY SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL OFFENCES
A sexual predator, Ahmed Al-Razawe, is now behind bars after his victims acted quickly and responsibly by capturing photos and videos of him.One courageous woman also chased him down the street and punched him, helping to ensure he was apprehended.
Last year, Al-Razawe committed three sexual assaults across Liverpool city centre within just four days.
His first victims were two teenage girls sitting at a bus stop, whom he approached and asked for sex while groping their thighs, according to reports by the Liverpool Echo.
He also assaulted a young woman by slapping her bottom and then biting her breast after she wrestled him to the ground.
The judge at Liverpool Crown Court described Al-Razawe’s actions as treating victims as his "sexual commodities" without regard for their rights.
Despite his aggressive behaviour, the victims outsmarted him by using their mobile phones to take photographs and record videos of his actions.
One woman even took the extra step of chasing him down the street and delivering a punch, which contributed to his arrest.
The incidents included an attack on two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, waiting for a taxi at Liverpool One bus station around 11:30 p.m.
on Saturday, October 23.
He groped their legs and slid his hand up one girl's shorts.
The other girl managed to photograph and record him, later posting the footage on Facebook to alert others and aid police identification.
At the time, Al-Razawe, a Syrian national who had entered the UK illegally and had applied for asylum, was residing in a hostel on Upper Park Street, Toxteth.
When the hostel owner received a screenshot of the post, he recognized Al-Razawe and promptly notified the police.
Al-Razawe’s spree continued when, a few days later, around 12:40 a.m.
on Wednesday, October 27, he approached two women walking along Lydia Ann Street.
Drunk and aggressive, he asked them to open a wine bottle and when they declined, he slapped and squeezed the bottom of one woman.
When her friend protested, he swung at her, prompting her to grab his neck in a struggle.
During the altercation, Al-Razawe bit her left breast and struck her head with a bottle.
According to prosecuting lawyer Henry Riding, a witness shouted at him to get off, causing Al-Razawe to run away.
However, one of the women’s friends chased and caught him, during which he suffered a bleeding injury that matched his DNA.
Additionally, the third victim and her friends managed to photograph Al-Razawe before he was identified through an identity parade.
Facing overwhelming evidence, Al-Razawe admitted to three counts of sexual assault and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.
The 17-year-old victim described her ongoing trauma, stating, “Every time I close my eyes, I could see his face.” She expressed her increased wariness around others and relief that she and her friend were not alone during the attack.
The 18-year-old victim also shared her distress, mentioning how she now jumps at the slightest noise, has difficulty sleeping, and experiences a heavy sensation on her chest.
Prosecutor Mr.
Riding explained, “She describes how she doesn’t want to get up or go out and relives what happened in her head repeatedly.” The third woman, in her 20s and new to Liverpool, recounted feeling uneasy in the city after the incident, suffering nightmares, difficulty socializing, and negative reactions to friendly touches from men.
She also detailed how the bite to her breast left a permanent scar, which is a lasting reminder of the assault and impacts her choice of clothing.
During sentencing, Judge Recorder Harris commended the brave woman who chased after Al-Razawe, saying she ‘helped bring him to justice.’ Al-Razawe was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
He claimed that alcohol and drugs influenced his actions and that he did not remember the first incident.
However, a probation officer assessed him as posing a ‘high risk of causing serious harm to women.’ The judge noted Al-Razawe’s lack of insight and empathy, describing his approach as ‘predatory.’ He sentenced him to three years in prison, with Al-Razawe expected to serve half his sentence before either being released on licence or deported, depending on a Home Office review.
