Qais Al-Aswad

A man from Horley has been sentenced following his conviction for multiple sexual assaults in the town. Qais Al-Aswad, aged 26, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault by touching at Staines Magistrates’ Court on 20 August 2025, after a one-day trial. The offences occurred between 23 May and 12 June 2025, targeting three different women in public locations.

The first incident took place on 23 May 2025 outside Dentistree in Horley, where Al-Aswad, riding a bicycle, assaulted a woman. Subsequent offences happened on 4 June and 12 June 2025 outside The Factory Shop in the same area. Surrey Police launched an investigation after reports of these distressing incidents, leading to Al-Aswad's arrest and charging in June 2025. He was remanded into custody following his guilty verdict.

On 22 October 2025, at Guildford Magistrates’ Court, Al-Aswad received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his behaviour and protect the public. Detective Inspector Helen Cooper, who led the investigation, commented: “I am grateful for the swift action taken by officers who worked to identify Al-Aswad as being responsible for all three offences and ensure he was charged, remanded and brought before the courts. Incidents of this nature are distressing and concerning for our local communities. As a Force, we remain committed to tackling violence against women and girls and I hope the fact that Al-Aswad was quickly identified, charged and remanded into custody shows that reports are taken seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”

This case underscores Surrey Police's dedication to addressing sexual offences promptly, with the rapid identification and prosecution serving as a deterrent to potential perpetrators in the community. The source of this information is the official Surrey Police news release dated 22 October 2025.