Asylum seeker charged with abduction & rape of teen girl

A 20-year-old Sri Lankan asylum seeker, Yashin Himasara, has been charged with the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in west London, following an alleged incident while he resided in a government-funded migrant hotel.

Himasara,whose date of birth was confirmed in court but not publicly detailed, faces multiple serious offences stemming from events on 1 November in Feltham, where he is accused of carrying the teenager away against her will, beating her, and subjecting her to strangulation.

Currently detained at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Himasara appeared via video-link at Isleworth Crown Court, denying all charges with the assistance of a Sinhala interpreter.

The defendant, previously housed at the three-star St Giles Hotel in Feltham—designated by the government for asylum accommodation—entered not guilty pleas to one count of kidnapping, one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, and one count of assault by beating.

He further denied one count of sexual activity with a child and two counts of intentional strangulation. Defence counsel Bozzie Sheffi informed the court that Himasara has limited proficiency in English and will require interpreter support throughout proceedings.

Read more: Darlington Pub Predator Jailed for Nearly Six Years

Presiding Judge Kwame Inyundo remanded Himasara in custody, scheduling the trial for 27 April 2026. The judge issued a stern warning, stating that failure to attend the trial could result in it proceeding in his absence, depriving him of the opportunity to present his defence to the jury and potentially constituting a separate offence.

When asked by Judge Inyundo if he understood the allegations, Himasara affirmed that he did. The Home Office declined to provide any comment on Himasara’s asylum status.