Muslim Rioter Jailed for Sexual Assault

From The Telegraph & Argus:

A man jailed for five years for his part in the Bradford riots has been locked up for sexual assault and harassment.

Hedar Ali, 29, was imprisoned for four years and four months and made to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the rest of his life.

Ali, of Templar Way, Fairweather Green, Bradford, was held in custody after pleading guilty to the offences.

Bradford Crown Court heard they were committed while he was on bail on two charges of common assault against the same victim.

Magistrates jailed him for 56 days for those offences, committed in July last year.

Four months later, Ali sexually assaulted his victim after drinking brandy.

Prosecutor Jayne Beckett said he grabbed the woman by the neck and pinned her down.

His catalogue of harassment included turning off her electricity supply, poking a garden cane through her letterbox, confronting her in a supermarket and making a gesture of slitting her throat.

Mrs Beckett said Ali was arrested near his victim’s home in December. He fled on foot from the police but was caught after a chase.

In a statement to the court, the woman said she lost weight and was scared all the time Ali was pestering her.

Mrs Beckett told the court Ali was convicted of riot in 2002 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Ali’s barrister, David McGonigal, said his client wanted to make a fresh start with his life.

He had not caused the woman serious injury and would not approach her again.

Judge Roger Scott said the offences were aggravated by the fact Ali was on bail for the two earlier assaults.

He sentenced him to 40 months imprisonment for sexual assault and 12 months for harassment.

Ali was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order barring him from contact with his victim.