A Sudanese migrant has been jailed for attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl as she was walking home from work at night.
Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, 28, grabbed the teenager before dragging her across the street “against her will”, Swindon Crown Court heard.
The attempted kidnapping occurred on March 6 this year in Swindon, Wiltshire, at around 9pm.
CCTV footage of the incident showed Adam running towards the girl as she was walking in front of a set of traffic lights, before grabbing her from behind.
Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, 28, grabbed the teenager before dragging her across the street ‘against her will’
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WILTSHIRE POLICE
The Sudanese national’s attack was only halted after members of the public who were waiting for a bus nearby intervened to stop him.
One witness chased Adam, filming him on their phone, before he eventually ran away.
Police were alerted later that evening after the victim’s mother reported the incident.
The 28-year-old was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping.
The migrant appeared at Swindon Crown Court via video link and was sentenced to four years in prison
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On Thursday, the migrant appeared at Swindon Crown Court via video link and was sentenced to four years in prison.
During sentencing, Judge Jason Taylor KC said Adam posed “a significant risk of serious harm to the public” and “those members of the public most at risk are female, and they must be protected from you”.
Judge Taylor continued: “At approximately 9pm on March 6, you approached a 17-year-old girl walking through Swindon Town centre as she made her way home from work.
“You initiated a conversation with her; asking about money, whether you could go home with her, and saying you didn’t have a girlfriend.
“She told you she was a minor and asked you to leave her alone.
Wiltshire Police were alerted after the victim’s mother reported the incident
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PA“You initially did but you came back and started pestering her again.
“Witnesses described you pushing and dragging her despite her screaming loudly, with those screams being vividly captured on bus CCTV.
“People were sufficiently shocked and alarmed that they intervened.
“You, however, were smiling as if you had done nothing wrong.
“In contrast, the look on the victim’s face was described as pure fear.
“I cannot say what your ultimate intentions were, but that unknown is what makes this so sinister and concerning.
“Her fear, and the fear of witnesses, range from torture to rape.”
In a Victim Personal Statement, the 17-year-old girl said: “I remember how I was before this happened. It was like I wasn’t even aware that bad things could happen in the world, and I felt confident in myself to walk out the house every day at any time of day or night.
“I remember not being afraid to be outside or to constantly think about people’s intentions around me while in public.
“I never would have believed this had happened to me and I never fully connected myself to when women say they don’t feel safe to walk at night, but I understand now.”
“I hope you learn how to be a good person.”
After the sentencing, Detective Constable Anna McCormack from Wiltshire Police said: “I’d like to again pay tribute to the victim for the immense bravery and strength she has shown throughout this process, and to thank the members of the public who intervened to stop this incident potentially being far worse than it was.
“Adam displayed predatory behaviour towards a number of women, firstly the victim in this case, then another woman passing by, and finally towards a witness to his attempted kidnap.
“I hope the conviction and today’s sentencing of Adam shows how seriously we take these offences and that there is no place for it in Wiltshire.”
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