Small-boat sex predator jailed for train assault on lone woman

Hawre Mohamed, a 27-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker born on 12 March 1998 and of Bonehurst Road, Horley, has been jailed for eight months after being convicted of sexually assaulting a lone 20-year-old woman on a train travelling between Horley and Redhill.

The sentence was handed down at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 8 December following a trial at the same court last month in which Mohamed was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.

Magistrates heard that on the evening of 22 September this year, Mohamed first approached the victim at Horley railway station pretending he needed help with the ticket barrier.

Minutes later he boarded the same Thameslink service and, despite numerous empty seats in the carriage, deliberately sat beside the woman who was travelling alone.

He immediately began unwanted conversation, ignored her clear requests to be left alone, touched her inappropriately, attempted to kiss her and suggested she return home with him.

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When challenged he told the woman he “doesn’t go for below 18” before asking her age.

The victim moved seats and alighted at Redhill station where she immediately reported the assault to railway staff who contacted British Transport Police.

Officers arrested Mohamed four days later at East Croydon station after recognising the distinctive jacket he had worn during the attack.

During police interview Mohamed insisted he had “done nothing wrong” and claimed he had spoken to “many females that day”.

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At trial, giving evidence through a Kurdish Sorani interpreter, he maintained the complainant had displayed a “nice attitude” and had “wanted sex”.