Iraqi Asylum Seeker Flashes Thumbs-Up Before Sexually Assaulting Student on Train
Chilling CCTV Catch: Smug Thumbs-Up Before Attack
An Iraqi asylum seeker gave a creepy thumbs-up to CCTV cameras before boarding a train where he sexually assaulted a 20-year-old university student, a court has heard.
Hawre Mohamed, 27, who arrived in the UK by small boat in 2024 and is currently living in a £100-a-night taxpayer-funded hotel, trapped the woman in a window seat and groped her during a terrifying 15-minute ordeal.
District Judge Nicola Fleck ruled Mohamed guilty of sexual assault at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on November 17, 2025, smashing his claims that the victim “wanted sex” or that he stopped when “consent was withdrawn.” Sentencing is set for December 8, with Mohamed facing up to 10 years behind bars.
How the Attack Unfolded on the Southern Train
- Mohamed was filmed chatting and flashing a thumbs-up at the victim at Crawley station, West Sussex, before barging through ticket barriers.
- He boarded the 9.40pm Southern train to London Victoria on September 22, 2025.
- Despite many empty seats, he deliberately sat next to the student.
- He bombarded her with personal questions and then aggressively demanded sex.
Prosecutor Barto de Lotbiniere said: “He pushed his body towards her, tried to kiss her, squeezed her bottom, and grabbed her thigh.” The terrified student stayed frozen until the train stopped at Redhill station, Surrey, where she managed to escape and report the attack.
No Remorse from Lavish Taxpayer-Funded Asylum Seeker
Mohamed was arrested on October 2 at the luxury Four Points by Sheraton Hotel near Gatwick Airport, where he has been housed at public expense while waiting for his asylum claim to be processed.
During police interviews, Mohamed showed zero remorse, arrogantly stating: “I don’t believe I have done anything wrong. I spoke to many females that day.”
His lawyer tried blaming “cultural misunderstandings” and “language barriers,” quoting Mohamed as saying, “I like to move my hands.” Judge Fleck dismissed these excuses as irrelevant to the clear-cut assault.
Public Fury Grows Over Asylum System and Train Safety
Mohamed’s conviction comes amid a surge in Channel crossings by Iraqi nationals, who accounted for 13% of 49,341 irregular arrivals in the year to June 2025. Meanwhile, British Transport Police report a 20% rise in train sexual assaults during 2024, stoking fears about passenger safety.
The victim, who remains anonymous, is receiving ongoing support from police victim care units. CCTV footage of Mohamed’s chilling thumbs-up gesture has gone viral, igniting anger over asylum policy and funding for offender accommodation.
“Calls for swift deportation and tougher asylum reforms exploded across social media, with the clip racking up over 50,000 views and thousands of angry comments.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged reforms on November 17 aimed at speeding up the removal of foreign criminals. But human rights laws may delay Mohamed’s deportation despite his conviction.
What’s Next? December Sentencing and Lingering Deportation Battle
Mohamed remains locked up at HMP Belmarsh, awaiting sentencing where he faces up to a decade behind bars for sexual assault. His blatant lack of remorse, CCTV-evidenced premeditation, and the victim’s trauma will influence the judge’s ruling.
Although his asylum claim looks doomed, tangled legal battles over deportation could drag on for years. Meanwhile, police urge all passengers to report any assaults to help protect Britain’s trains.
That smug thumbs-up before the attack has become a haunting symbol of entitlement and impunity — spotlighting serious questions about Britain’s asylum system and victim protection.
