Hassan Hayleh

A Syrian national, Hassan Hayleh, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for a chilling sexual assault on a young woman in Weymouth, Dorset. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of 18 December 2022, highlighted the vulnerability of young people in nightlife settings and the importance of public intervention.

According to court proceedings at Bournemouth Crown Court, Hayleh, aged 40 and residing in Weymouth, drove around the town centre three times that night, ostensibly searching for cigarettes but in reality targeting a vulnerable, drunken woman. CCTV footage captured him spotting the 19-year-old victim, who had just left a nightclub and was sitting on the kerb, awaiting her father to pick her up. Hayleh approached her, helped her up, and then placed his hands inside her trousers and underwear, committing the sexual assault. He subsequently attempted to drag her into his car, but the victim refused and shouted for help from nearby passers-by, who intervened and prevented further harm.

The court heard that Hayleh had arrived in the UK in 2018 seeking asylum after fleeing Syria, where he endured imprisonment and torture under the regime of former president Bashir al-Assad, resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Granted leave to remain, he settled in Weymouth with his wife and four children. His defence counsel, Graham Gilbert, argued against imprisonment, claiming it would exacerbate Hayleh's PTSD and violate his human rights, potentially triggering severe mental health deterioration. Gilbert emphasised Hayleh's lack of previous convictions, his expressed remorse, and the post-verdict harassment he faced, including being spat at and having his property damaged. He advocated for a suspended sentence to allow rehabilitation, noting the strained prison system lacked adequate treatment facilities for Hayleh's condition.

• Hayleh was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial in November 2023.
• The judge described the offence as 'planned' and 'chilling', pointing to the condoms found in Hayleh's car as evidence of intent.
• The victim, whose identity is protected, shared in her impact statement: 'It is hard not to think about how I could have been raped or murdered if I had not said no. I now have nightmares with a faceless man which makes me feel entrapped.'

Judge Robert Pawson dismissed the human rights arguments, stating he 'shuddered to think what might have happened' without the public's help. He praised the intervening young people as heroes who 'saved the day' and issued a cautionary note for young people to stay together in such situations. In addition to the custodial sentence of two years and 10 months, Hayleh received a six-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The case was prosecuted under Dorset Police jurisdiction, with sentencing occurring in early 2024, though the exact date was not specified in reports.