DLR sex attacker jailed

By Rob Virtue on October 1, 2008 11:31 AM |

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MOHAMOUD Ahmed.jpg

A MAN who sexually assaulted a DLR passenger has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, September 30, Ahmed Mohamoud, 23, of Oban Street, E14, pleaded guilty to the two sex assaults and a charge of exposing himself.

The court heard how on New Year's Day earlier this year, Mohamoud boarded a DLR train at Westferry at 8am and sat next to a 26-year-old female from Greenwich, despite the rest of the carriage being empty.

As the victim went to leave the train at Poplar station, Mohamoud indecently touched her twice.

He then followed her off the train, while shouting obscenities, before he exposed himself on the platform.

He left the scene but CCTV images of Mohamoud were circulated on police intelligence systems.

Mohamoud was later arrested for another charge in February of trespassing on the tracks at East India DLR station.

While in custody a British Transport Police officer recognised him from the images and he was arrested for the sex assault.

He was released on bail, but was re-arrested in a departure lounge at Heathrow Airport where he was attempting to travel Dubai.

Police had received information he was about to flee the country.

Sentencing Mohamoud, Judge Andrew Goymer, said: "You treated your victim like a piece of dirt under your shoe.

"Your actions thoroughly intimidated your victim and have had a lasting effect on her."

Speaking outside of court following the verdict, PC Lizzie Beeston of BTP's Sexual Offences Unit, said: "The CCTV onboard the DLR train and on the platforms was crucial in this case, since it allowed us to link Mohamoud to his crimes by placing him at the scene of each of his offences and providing us with clear facial images of him.

"Mohamoud's assault was a frightening and intimidating experience and I hope the 18 month jail sentence handed down to him represents some form of justice for his victim and sends out the clearest possible message that the consequences for those who commit these sorts of offences on the railway are sever.

"The large majority of people use the railway to go about their daily business but we want to make sure that anyone who has any other intentions knows what they can expect from us."