Syrian Refugee Who Sexually Assaulted Six Women Claims ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’

A Syrian refugee who is on trial for charges of sexually assaulting six women in London is now claiming he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and didn’t realize his criminal behavior.

Alkhabbaz, from Islington in North London, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on November 8 at Southwark Crown Court.

Hasan Alkhabbaz, 22, was only in the United Kingdom for one month before he was arrested on the sexual assault charges.

His past included a similar offense.

Breitbart has more:

Between November 14th, 2016, and March 3rd, 2017, Hasan Alkhabbaz, 22, lurked in underpasses in the Paddington area, notably in the Joe Strummer subway where The Clash’s frontman used to busk, and grabbed lone women by their bottoms and put his hands up their skirts, reports the Daily Mail.

The Syrian had already received a suspended sentence in May for a similar offence committed on March 5, 2017, whilst investigations into the earlier assaults were being conducted by police.

After being released on conditional bail on August 15th, Alkhabbaz was arrested at Heathrow Airport for trying to flee the UK on September 8th. He was attempting to board a flight to Egypt with the intention of going on to Sudan.

He was in possession of a Syrian passport that had been issued on August 21st – six days after he was bailed. Prosecutor Brett Weaver told the court the refugee was then remanded in custody until his court appearance at Southwark Crown Court after breaking the bail condition of not applying for international travel documents.

Alkhabbaz admitted to six counts of sexual assault, but a psychiatric evaluation was ordered following claims he suffered PTSD because he came from a war zone.

His barrister Kenneth Newman told the court: “Mr. Alkhabbaz and his family arrived in the UK in October last year fleeing the conflict in Syria. They were fast-tracked into the UK.

“Mr. Alkhabbaz lost a sister in Syria due to bombing and I am told by Mr. Alkhabbaz’s father they were under siege for a number of months.”

That experience lead to Alkhabbaz and his father being diagnosed with the anxiety disorder, Mr. Newman told the court.

The judge, Mr. Recorder Edward Connell, adjourned sentencing until November the 8th, pending results of a psychiatric report.

“You have pleaded guilty to a series of offences, each of which crosses the custody threshold and the most likely sentence you are going to receive is a custodial sentence.

“But that will be for the judge on that occasion to decide once they know a bit more about you from the report,” Judge Connell said.