CARDIFF — A 33-year-old Syrian asylum seeker has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for sexually assaulting and strangling a woman in Cardiff last year.
Fawaz Alsamaou, from Lockwood, Huddersfield, attacked the 24-year-old victim after she left Pulse nightclub on Churchill Way at around 4 a.m. on May 12, 2024. Police say he followed her and dragged her under a railway bridge off Salisbury Road in Cathays, where the assault took place. The woman fought him off and escaped, later calling police.
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Following a police investigation, including a BBC Crimewatch appeal, Alsamaou was identified and arrested in Huddersfield. He later admitted to sexual assault and strangulation at Newport Crown Court.
During sentencing, Judge Celia Hughes described the attack as “horrible” and noted that Alsamaou is likely to be deported after serving his sentence.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said the attack had left lasting effects on her life, stating:
“I’m always looking over my shoulder and thinking the worst… I couldn’t work for weeks and I still have nightmares. This isn’t something you can just recover from.”
Detective Sergeant Alex Lloyd of South Wales Police said the sentencing provides closure for the victim and emphasized that stranger attacks like this are rare, but the police will use all available resources to bring offenders to justice.