A man who sexually assaulted a woman as she walked home late at night in Gloucester has been sentenced to prison.
Abdulla Ali, 26, was jailed for two years at Gloucester Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman during an incident that took place at around 11pm on July 28.
The court heard that Ali approached the woman, whom he did not know, as she was walking home alone following a night out. Prosecutor Simon Burns said the defendant took advantage of the woman while she was in a vulnerable state.
CCTV footage showed Ali leading the woman away from her intended route. After she collapsed out of view, Ali was seen crouching near her before lifting her and leading her away again. He later left the area in the direction of his home on Cecil Road.
The victim was initially unaware of what had happened and reported her concerns to police three days later. She was advised to attend a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, where forensic analysis later confirmed the presence of Ali’s DNA on her clothing.
Ali was arrested after detectives from Gloucestershire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team identified him through CCTV footage and matched his DNA to forensic evidence.
During the investigation, Ali initially denied the assault and claimed he was trying to help the woman. He later pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
Sentencing Ali, His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe ordered him to serve two years in prison, placed him on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years, and recommended him for deportation. The court was told Ali is an asylum seeker from Egypt and had no previous convictions.
