09/12/25
A grinning Iraqi migrant who gave a young woman the thumbs up before sexually assaulting her on a train has been jailed.
Hawre Mohamed, 27, groped and kissed the 20-year-old on September 22 after spotting her at a station in Crawley.
He barged through the ticket barriers and boarded the same Thameslink train as the student – who was travelling home from college – telling her ‘I want to have sex with you’.
The court heard he had spent the day attempting to approach random women.
Mohamed, of Bonehurst Road, Salfords, Horley, RH1 5, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault last month.
On Monday he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Mohamed had approached his victim at around 8.30pm, asking how to get through the ticket barriers.
He boarded the same train as her and followed her through the carriage despite there being other empty seats and opted to sit with the young woman against her wishes.
Hawre Mohamed, 27, groped and kissed the 20-year-old on September 22 after spotting her at a station in Crawley
He barged through the ticket barriers and boarded the same Thameslink train as the student – who was travelling home from college – telling her ‘I want to have sex with you’
Mohamed gave his victim the thumbs up before sexually assaulting her and telling police ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’
It was then that he touched her inappropriately and attempted to kiss her, ignoring repeated requests to stop.
He also suggested she should go back with him and asked her how old she was, stating he ‘doesn’t go for below 18’.
The victim moved away and disembarked at Redhill Station where she reported Mohamed’s actions to station staff and British Transport Police (BTP).
Officers were on patrol in East Croydon just days later when they spotted Mohamed, who was wearing the same jacket he had sported the day he sexually assaulted her.
He was arrested and taken into custody.
Following his detention, Mohamed insisted the victim ‘wanted sex’.
He said: ‘She had a nice attitude. I like to move my hands around.
‘She was pleased. I could see that. She wanted sex. I don’t know why her mood changed.’
The district judge told Mohamed: ‘You followed her down the train and asked to sit next to her’.
Eleanor Umeyor, defending, insisted Mohamed had ‘moved away’ when ‘consent was withdrawn’.
But District Judge Nicola Fleck said the victim had not given consent, finding Mohamed guilty of sexual assault.
She told the sex attacker: ‘You followed her down the train and asked to sit next to her.
‘I am satisfied that she did not request this, instigate it, or want it… she did not consent to this touching.’
Judge Fleck added: ‘The complainant provided clear and consistent evidence and in my judgement was a witness of truth.’
Mohamed was tearful as the verdict was read out.
The Sun reported that at the time of the attack, he had been living in the three-star, £100-a-night, taxpayer-funded Four Points by Sheraton Hotel near Gatwick Airport.
His asylum claim is said to still be being processed by the Home Office.
BTP Detective Constable Geraldine Devaney said: ‘Mohamed is a sexual predator who preyed on a woman travelling alone and wouldn’t take no for an answer. His behaviour that day was simply vile.
‘Thanks to the courage and support of the victim, we have been able to put him before the courts and behind bars.
‘If you experience or witness a sexual offence on board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016.
‘We take all reports seriously and can respond immediately to trace sexual offenders like Mohamed and bring them to justice.’
https://mol.im/a/15368153
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37571392/migrant-sexually-assaults-woman-train-released-weeks