This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzxv7lxw8o
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed for attacks on staff in Essex | Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed for attacks on staff in Essex |
(32 minutes later) | |
Mohammed Sharwarq arrived in the UK by small boat earlier this year | |
A migrant who travelled to the UK by small boat and later attacked asylum hotel staff has been jailed for 16 weeks. | A migrant who travelled to the UK by small boat and later attacked asylum hotel staff has been jailed for 16 weeks. |
Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, assaulted a cleaner, a head chef and two residents at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, on 12 August. | Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, assaulted a cleaner, a head chef and two residents at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, on 12 August. |
The 32-year-old's barrister said he was suffering a mental breakdown at the time and now wanted to return to Syria. | The 32-year-old's barrister said he was suffering a mental breakdown at the time and now wanted to return to Syria. |
Sharwarq was sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court after admitting a series of assaults. | Sharwarq was sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court after admitting a series of assaults. |
A sexual assault charge was dropped by the prosecution at the start of the hearing. | A sexual assault charge was dropped by the prosecution at the start of the hearing. |
Terence Newman, prosecuting, said Sharwarq knocked a fellow migrant to the floor in a one-punch attack at the hotel's canteen, which left him bleeding. | Terence Newman, prosecuting, said Sharwarq knocked a fellow migrant to the floor in a one-punch attack at the hotel's canteen, which left him bleeding. |
He then struck a cleaner in the arm, threw a banana at him and slapped another resident in the hotel lobby. | He then struck a cleaner in the arm, threw a banana at him and slapped another resident in the hotel lobby. |
"The defendant then approaches the head chef; he grabs him and tries to punch him to the face," said Mr Newman, adding police were called when Sharwarq then armed himself with a chair. | "The defendant then approaches the head chef; he grabs him and tries to punch him to the face," said Mr Newman, adding police were called when Sharwarq then armed himself with a chair. |
Sharwarq had been housed at The Bell Hotel for about a month before his arrest, the court heard | Sharwarq had been housed at The Bell Hotel for about a month before his arrest, the court heard |
The attacks followed several other incidents where Sharwarq slapped, kicked and charged at another resident between 25 and 26 July, the court heard. | The attacks followed several other incidents where Sharwarq slapped, kicked and charged at another resident between 25 and 26 July, the court heard. |
District Judge Lynette Woodrow said he was on bail for an alleged affray at another asylum hotel in Gloucestershire at the time. | District Judge Lynette Woodrow said he was on bail for an alleged affray at another asylum hotel in Gloucestershire at the time. |
Paul Baker, mitigating, suggested Sharwarq was experiencing a "breakdown" brought on by the trauma of fleeing war in Syria in 2011. | Paul Baker, mitigating, suggested Sharwarq was experiencing a "breakdown" brought on by the trauma of fleeing war in Syria in 2011. |
"There were a lot of deaths and atrocities committed in this time," Mr Baker said. | "There were a lot of deaths and atrocities committed in this time," Mr Baker said. |
'He's had enough' | 'He's had enough' |
The defendant spent time in Turkey before being granted residency in Germany, but an incident, not detailed to the court, led to his settled status being revoked. | The defendant spent time in Turkey before being granted residency in Germany, but an incident, not detailed to the court, led to his settled status being revoked. |
Mr Baker said Sharwarq was an engineer and "came into the UK by boat" in the hope of getting work, later being housed at The Bell Hotel. | Mr Baker said Sharwarq was an engineer and "came into the UK by boat" in the hope of getting work, later being housed at The Bell Hotel. |
The hotel made national headlines when an asylum seeker living there, Hadush Kebatu, was charged with and later jailed for sexual offences in an unrelated case in July. | The hotel made national headlines when an asylum seeker living there, Hadush Kebatu, was charged with and later jailed for sexual offences in an unrelated case in July. |
The Bell Hotel was at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over the summer | |
Mr Baker said Sharwarq "indicated a desire to return to Syria" after his arrest. | Mr Baker said Sharwarq "indicated a desire to return to Syria" after his arrest. |
"Despite the atrocities going on there, despite the people going missing, he wants to return back to Syria. He's had enough," Mr Baker added. | "Despite the atrocities going on there, despite the people going missing, he wants to return back to Syria. He's had enough," Mr Baker added. |
Sharwarq was sentenced after admitting four offences of assault by beating and two counts of common assault. | Sharwarq was sentenced after admitting four offences of assault by beating and two counts of common assault. |
Judge Woodrow ordered he pay £700 in compensation, shared between three of his victims. | Judge Woodrow ordered he pay £700 in compensation, shared between three of his victims. |
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |
Previous version
1
Next version