Man sentenced for sexual assault - Sheffield

A 24-year-old man has been sentenced for sexual assaulting a woman on board a train following a British Transport Police investigation.

 

 

Muath Dahdal, of Colne Road, Huddersfield, was found guilty of sexual assault by Sheffield Magistrates on Thursday 7 September and was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail suspended for 18 months.

 

He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation, £200 costs and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

 

 

The court heard how on Thursday 13 October last year the victim was travelling on a Northern service from Hull when Dahdal boarded the train at Doncaster and sat next to her.

 

 

Throughout the journey to Sheffield Dahdal carried out a sustained a sexual assault in silence, without speaking to the victim.

 

 

Both the victim, a 28-year-old woman, and Dahdal left the service separately at Sheffield where the victim approached a British Transport Police officer on the platform and reported what had happened.

 

Shortly afterwards Dahdal was identified by the victim and arrested as he left the station.

 

 

Investigating officer DC Lucy Broadbent said: "This was a horrible ordeal which left the young woman shaken and traumatised.

 

"Dahdal showed no remorse for his actions, denying the sexual assault and answering no comment in interview.

 

 

“We take all reports of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations.

 

“If you are a victim of, or a witness to, a sexual offence on the railway - I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. We will always take you seriously."