A disturbing case of predatory behaviour on London's transport network has concluded with the sentencing of a migrant who targeted a teenage schoolgirl in a month-long campaign of terror.
Mohammed Al Tawab, a 21-year-old asylum seeker from Bangladesh, was sentenced to three years in youth detention after admitting to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he had been systematically stalking on the Tube.
The Systematic Stalking
The court heard how Al Tawab first noticed his victim in late 2023 and began a calculated pattern of harassment that lasted several weeks. The schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was targeted during her daily commute through central London stations.
"He would deliberately position himself to watch her, follow her through ticket halls, and even change his travel route to match hers," the prosecution told Wood Green Crown Court.
The Final Assault
The situation escalated dramatically on December 13th when Al Tawab followed the terrified teenager off a Victoria line train at Highbury and Islington station. In a moment that left the victim traumatised, he grabbed her from behind and committed the sexual assault as she tried to flee.
Quick-thinking station staff intervened after hearing the girl's screams, detaining Al Tawab until police arrived to make the arrest.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the trial, it emerged that Al Tawab had entered the UK illegally in 2022 and was awaiting the outcome of an asylum application at the time of the offences.
Judge Catherine Wood described the case as "every parent's worst nightmare" and highlighted the significant psychological impact on the young victim, who now suffers from anxiety and has changed her travel routines.
In addition to the three-year detention sentence, Al Tawab was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and will likely face deportation upon completion of his sentence.
Broader Implications
This case has sparked renewed debate about:
- Public safety on London's transport network
- The monitoring of asylum seekers with criminal tendencies
- Protection of vulnerable commuters, particularly children
- Effectiveness of current sentencing for sexual offences
British Transport Police have emphasised their commitment to tackling sexual offences on the rail network, but this case raises troubling questions about how predators can operate undetected for extended periods.
