The Home Office has launched a bid to deport an asylum seeker who committed two sexual assaults within days of arriving in the United Kingdom and being accommodated in a controversial migrant hotel.
Hawar Abdulrahman Rasoul, a 25-year-old Iraqi national, was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in separate incidents in Epping, Essex.
Crimes Committed Just Days After Arrival
Shockingly, Rasoul's attacks occurred merely days after he first entered Britain. He had been housed at the Rose and Crown Hotel in Epping, one of many establishments used by the government to accommodate asylum seekers at public expense.
The court heard how Rasoul first targeted the teenage girl on August 6, 2023, following her into a shop and then sexually assaulting her. Just three days later, on August 9, he approached a woman from behind and assaulted her in a similar manner.
Pattern of Predatory Behaviour
Prosecutors outlined a pattern of predatory behaviour, noting that Rasoul had followed both victims before attacking them. His actions caused significant distress and trauma to the victims, with the impact statements describing the lasting psychological harm.
Judge Christopher Morgan described the offences as "serious sexual assaults" that had a "profound impact" on the victims. The sentence reflected the gravity of the crimes committed so soon after Rasoul's arrival in the country.
Deportation Proceedings Initiated
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed: "We are taking action to remove this individual from the UK following his conviction for abhorrent crimes."
The case has reignited debates about the screening and monitoring of asylum seekers housed in temporary accommodation. Local residents and politicians have expressed concerns about the safety implications of housing large numbers of migrants in community settings without adequate supervision.
The Rose and Crown Hotel has been at the centre of local protests since being converted to house asylum seekers, with this incident likely to intensify calls for a review of the government's accommodation policies.
