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.
The judge accepted victims suffered psychological harm, acknowledging one victim can no longer walk with headphones due to fear. Yet the sentence still sidesteps immediate prison.
- 40 days rehabilitation activity
- 200 hours unpaid work
- Sexual harm prevention order with tracking tag
- Banned from public bicycle or scooter use unless GPS tracked
His bizarre excuse? Faulty bicycle brakes caused him to grab the women as he tried to avoid crashing. Victims present shook their heads at the claim.
Public Protests and Growing Anger Over Asylum Seeker Crimes
Following his conviction on 20 August, around 200 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the Horley hotel.
The protest expresses public fury over:
- Asylum seekers committing sexual offences
- Taxpayer-funded hotel housing for offenders
- Lenient suspended sentences
- Failure to deport convicted criminals
Al-Aswad arrived from Turkey less than a year before the assaults, having fled Syria in 2018 after his home was bombed. Despite multiple victims, he showed no remorse, speaking only through an interpreter to confirm his details.
Justice System Under Fire for Protecting Predators
Critics say the suspended sentence and mild restrictions reflect a two-tier justice system where asylum seekers receive lighter treatment. The victims—courageous enough to attend court—must now live with the trauma of being assaulted by a man who mocked their pain.
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.
