Asylum seeker jailed for groping teen on central line tube

An asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a teenage girl on a packed London mUnderground train has been jailed for 19 weeks after members of the public intervened to prevent his escape.

Muslih Alotaibi, 39, (born 13 November 1985), of no fixed address, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on 16 October after admitting one count of sexual assault.

The Saudi national, who arrived in the United Kingdom in 2023 and whose children and former wife remain in Saudi Arabia, now faces deportation proceedings following the conviction.

Prosecutors told the court that on the evening of 2 September 2024 Alotaibi boarded a Central line train and walked through the carriage before deliberately sitting next to a 17-year-old girl who was travelling alone, despite numerous empty seats being available elsewhere.

He placed a jacket across his lap and began touching the teenager inappropriately under her leg.

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A female passenger seated opposite noticed the victim’s distress and silently mouthed the words “are you okay”.

With tears in her eyes, the girl mouthed back “no”.

The teenager immediately moved seats to sit beside the concerned woman and disclosed what had just happened.

Alotaibi then stood up in an apparent attempt to leave the scene.

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Male passengers who had observed the exchange stepped in, surrounding the defendant and activating the train’s emergency alarm to ensure the doors remained closed at the next stop.

When the eastbound service reached Mile End station, British Transport Police officers were waiting on the platform and placed Alotaibi under arrest.