An asylum seeker who targeted and sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman as she walked home in Gloucester has been imprisoned and recommended for deportation.

Abdulla Ali, 26, of Cecil Road, Gloucester, appeared for sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday, 11 December. He had previously entered a guilty plea to sexual assault, having been originally indicted on a charge of attempted rape. The defendant, an Egyptian national with no prior convictions in the UK, was sentenced by His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe to two years in custody.

The court was presented with CCTV evidence from the night of 28 July, which captured the defendant intercepting the victim at approximately 23:00hrs. The woman, who was described as unsteady on her feet following a night out, was led away from her route home by Ali. Prosecuting barrister Simon Burns informed the court that the defendant took advantage of the "particularly vulnerable female" after she collapsed out of view of the cameras.

The prosecution detailed how Ali crouched over the incapacitated woman and, although he left briefly, returned to haul her to her feet and lead her away a second time. Forensic analysis of the victim's clothing later revealed semen stains. While the victim had no memory of the attack upon waking the next day, she reported the matter to the police on 31 July and attended a Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

Detectives from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team traced Ali to his home address using street surveillance footage. Following his arrest, his DNA profile was found to match the biological evidence recovered from the complainant's trousers. During initial interviews, Ali claimed he was merely trying to help the woman and asserted that he had ejaculated "involuntarily" due to arousal. However, he later admitted in a pre-sentence report to touching the victim's private parts and deliberately masturbating over her.

Read more: Predator convicted of woodland rape after deportation halted

Judge Lowe ordered that Ali sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years. In addition to the custodial term, the judge formally recommended that the defendant be considered for deportation by the Home Office upon his release.