MAN KEEPS SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMEN
A man carried out a terrifying assault on two women walking in Cardiff after a night out, marking the latest in a series of sexual and other disturbing crimes committed by Ali Hamad over several months.Hamad approached the two young women, who did not know him, early on November 24 last year as they were heading home along Cathays Terrace.
He sexually assaulted one of the women and slapped the other three times on the face before a passerby stepped in and police detained Hamad.
In the preceding four months, Hamad had committed three other sexual assaults, along with charges of exposing himself and outraging public decency.
At Cardiff Magistrates' Court, there was some confusion over his age, with reports suggesting he was either 24 or 27.
John Pennington, representing Hamad during sentencing, described him as a Sudanese national who was 'fairly rootless, with no job or relatives.' When asked about his immigration status by District Judge Charlotte Murphy, Hamad responded through an interpreter, saying: 'I have an expired card.' He also identified himself as an asylum seeker.
Less than two weeks before the Cardiff incident, Hamad was sentenced for crimes committed in London.
Prosecutor Kevin Withey detailed that on August 14, an off-duty female police officer was on a bus on her way to work.
Hamad was sitting behind her, staring and making her uncomfortable, then reaching through the seats to touch her bottom, which she managed to resist.
He then attempted to put his arm around her shoulder.
When she tried to escape, she saw him still on the bus, masturbating.
Earlier that summer, on July 20 at around 10 a.m., witnesses observed Hamad openly masturbating on a busy London street.
Withey explained that the complainant saw him ejaculate into his hand and wipe it on his trousers.
Female witnesses reported him pointing at them while acting indecently, and another woman described him approaching her from behind and making contact with his penis.
Hamad was sentenced to a 12-week jail term at Croydon Magistrates' Court on November 11 for the London offences.
Due to time served, he was released shortly afterward, then moved to Cardiff to stay with friends.
On the morning of November 24, at about 3:20 a.m., he approached two women in their early 20s, returning from a party, dressed in gowns and heels.
One of the women testified that Hamad appeared 'skittish' as he approached them near a Tesco Express, touching her friend's bare shoulder heavily and asking about their residence and money.
Feeling threatened, she intervened, telling him to leave them alone.
He reacted aggressively, striking her with his palm and grabbing both her arms, leaving bruises.
Hamad then slapped her three times on the head, causing her glasses to fall off.
A passing man saw and intervened, leading to police involvement.
During questioning, Hamad claimed he was assaulted by the women.
He pleaded not guilty to sexual assault for the shoulder touch and to two assault charges.
Defense lawyer Victoria Maud suggested one victim had been 'the aggressor,' claiming she had grabbed Hamad first.
However, the victim countered that the touching was non-consensual, and expressed her fear, saying she was 'terrified' and cried after the arrest.
Hamad testified that he was out visiting a friend and that he asked the woman for her number.
He claimed the other girl suddenly hit him, prompting him to hold her hands and move them towards a wall.
The prosecutor, Alex Dubljevic, questioned whether Hamad found the women attractive, to which he responded that he did not.
He admitted he wanted to get to know her better but denied any sexual excitement or touching.
In closing, lawyer Ms.
Maud noted no evidence of sexual contact, while prosecutor Dubljevic pointed out that Hamad clearly made a sexual advance and reacted violently when the women tried to distance themselves.
The judge, Gareth Williams, described the victims as credible and trustworthy, supported by CCTV footage.
The judge criticized Hamad for contradicting his own statements, noting he asked for the woman's number despite claiming not to find her attractive, and that his claim of being attacked was not supported by the video evidence.
It was concluded that the shoulder touch was for his sexual gratification, indicating attraction.
Hamad was found guilty of sexual assault and two assault charges.
Sentencing the next day, District Judge Charlotte Murphy expressed concern over the pattern of offenses over recent months.
Hamad's solicitor, John Pennington, argued that the shoulder touch was less serious than previous assaults and highlighted Hamad's background as a homeless asylum seeker from Sudan, with no prior convictions.
He explained Hamad had been living on friends' sofas due to difficulty securing accommodation or work.
Judge Murphy described Hamad's behavior as 'predatory,' targeting lone women and physically and sexually assaulting them for his gratification.
She noted the victims' distress and recognized a pattern of offending.
Hamad received an eight-month prison sentence, along with orders to pay £300 and £250 in compensation to each victim, respectively.
Additionally, she imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his contact with females unless they are aware of his convictions or he has police approval.
