Crime & Safety
Oxford – Image released of asylum seeker jailed for sexual assault
Hussein Almiyyahi, who was previously living at the Holiday Inn, in Grenoble Road, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, May 5.
The 39-year-old, who appeared in the dock with his arm in a sling, was convicted of four counts of sexual assault after a series of incidents at Plush Nightclub, in Oxford, on Saturday, January 17.
Almiyyahi was convicted after a trial at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.
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When the offences were put to him, he denied them, stating it wasn’t him.
Tom Blackburn, prosecuting, told the court there were three victims in this case.
The court heard the first victim visited the club with friends at around 12.40am.
She was dancing, when she felt a hand reach between her legs, which made her feel uneasy.
She spoke to bouncers about what happened.
The second victim was a friend of the first victim, and felt him grab her bottom.
The third victim was at the club dancing at around 1.45am when she was sexually assaulted.
Mr Blackburn told the court that Almiyyahi’s hand went between her legs and she turned around and pushed him away. He then assaulted her in the same way a second time.
The court heard she was ‘brought to tears’ and bouncers called the police.
Mr Blackburn read out an impact statement on behalf of the third victim.
It said: “It all happened very quickly. It has affected my revision for my A-levels. I’m struggling to focus.
“I’m meant to be going to university in September, but I have started to think about other options.
“I don’t want to go out anymore. I have distanced myself from male friends. I should be able to go out with my friends and not be assaulted.”
A victim impact statement, provided by the victim’s mother, said: “This has had profound and lasting impacts. I was awoken by a call from her screaming and crying.
“It should have been a safe space.”
Mr Blackburn added: “He attacked three separate women in a short space of time. He continues to deny the offences, despite the women all identifying him.”
Gareth James, mitigating, told the court he came to the UK in April 2024 seeking asylum from Iraq.
He said: “He realises he has let himself down, but says he was wrongly identified.”
Judge Ian Pringle KC said: “Reports were received from Plush Nightclub that a man had been indecently touching women at the club.
“You were the person responsible for the sexual assaults. This is totally unacceptable behaviour and deserves punishment.”
Almiyyahi was jailed for 12 months and ordered to comply with notification requirements of being on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
On Thursday, the city took to the polls, with half of the council’s seats up for grabs, one in each of its 24 wards.
There were four gains for the Green Party while Labour lost one seat in what was described as an “absolutely incredible night” by the former.
Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) did not gain any new seats, but does hold four on the council (no change).
Robin Tucker, co-chair, for the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel, said: “The gains made by the Green Party, and the IOA getting nothing, show that most people want a city that is cleaner, more walkable, safer for cycling, with less traffic.
“Not one with more cars, more pollution and more danger.”
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The Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT) is a group of voluntary and campaigning organisations working across Oxfordshire to create attractive, accessible and people-friendly streets.
Oxford City Council has been left with no clear majority.
With Labour winning 10 seats, the Green Party winning nine, Liberal Democrats winning four, and Independents winning one.
The 2018, 2022, 2021, and 2018 all left Labour with an overall control.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party have been contacted for further comment on the next steps as negotiations are likely to determine the future political makeup of the council.
Charles James Spencer-Churchill – a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales – was also disqualified from driving for a period of 28 days after he admitted to speeding at 80mph in the 50mph zone in Woodstock Road, Yarnton, on October 18, 2024.
The duke did not attend the hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon, and was sentenced in his absence after his solicitor entered a guilty plea to the speeding offence on his behalf.
District Judge Kamlesh Rana told the court Spencer-Churchill had a “clean driving record”.
She also imposed a £200 surcharge, and £300 in prosecution costs as part of the duke’s sentence.
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Spencer-Churchill was charged with another count of failing to give police information relating to the identification of the driver of a Hyundai in Banbury between November 15 and December 13, 2024.
But the prosecution offered no evidence on Friday after Spencer-Churchill pleaded guilty to the speeding charge.
Spencer-Churchill’s ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock.
The duke does not own the 18th century baroque palace and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate.
Earlier this year, the Duke appeared at Oxford Crown Court charged with three intentional strangulation offences against his estranged wife Elda Marlborough between November 2022 and May 2024.
Spencer-Churchill is accused of striking Ms Marlborough several times following an argument in the garden of their home before putting his hands around her neck on November 13, 2022.
The court was previously told that on April 23, 2023, Ms Marlborough ran into a laundry room before the defendant, who gave his address to the court as Blenheim Palace, is alleged to have grabbed her, hit her with a closed fist and strangled her.
The final allegation is that the duke pushed Ms Marlborough on the bed and assaulted her after putting his hands tightly around her neck on January 29, 2024.
He had already indicated not guilty pleas in the lower court, however he was not arraigned.
The court heard an application to dismiss the charges would be heard on June 22 this year.
A provisional trial date was set for January 10, 2028 with a time estimate of 10-12 days.
The 70-year-old is on bail.
He has previously spent time in prison. In 1995, he spent a month in prison for forging prescriptions.
In September 2007, he was sentenced to six months in jail on two counts of dangerous driving and one of criminal damage.
Seats were up for grabs in 16 wards – representing about a third of the council’s 49 seats.
While voting took place on Thursday, the votes were counted on Friday and the results then announced.
Here is a list of the results in the 16 wards.
Ascott and Shipton
Jan Lund (Liberal Democrat) – 444 votes – ELECTED
Ed Boanas (Conservative) – 343
Robin Puttick (Labour) – 22
Liz Reason (Green Party ) – 47
Nigel Walker (Reform UK) – 111
Electorate: 1,773; turnout 54.71 per cent
Bampton and Clanfield
Alaric Smith (Liberal Democrat) – 706 votes – ELECTED
Phil Evans (Green Party) – 85
Ted Fenton (Conservative) – 622
Yvonne Robineau (Labour) -29
Simon Taylor (Reform UK) – 320
Electorate 3,553; turnout 49.73 per cent
Brize Norton and Shilton
Rosie Pearson (Green Party) -335 votes – ELECTED
David Cooper (Conservative) – 269
Joseph Long (Reform UK) – 248
Diane Newsham (Labour) – 16
Toyah Overton (Liberal Democrat) – 256
Electorate 2,543; turnout 44.28 per cent
Burford
Nick Field Johnson (Conservative) – 370 votes – ELECTED
Natalie Baker (Green Party) – 39
Leslie Channon (Liberal Democrat) – 330
Nathaniel Miles (Labour) – 8
James Poxon (Reform UK) – 189
Electorate 1,757; turnout 53.39 per cent
Carterton North East
Simon Watson (Conservative) – 619 votes – ELECTED
Brian Barrett (Reform UK) – 345
Dave Horsley (Green Party) -116
Barry Ingleton (Independent) – 58
Robert Steere (Labour) – 38
Gill Stevenson (Liberal Democrat) – 324
Electorate 4,269; turnout 35.23 per cent
Carterton North West
Sarah Evans (Reform UK) – 600 votes – ELECTED
Tom Cripps (Conservative) – 489
Hemashu Kotecha (Green Party) – 152
Andrew Walton (Liberal Democrat) – 272
Dave Wesson (Labour) – 52
Electorate 4,067; turnout 38.68 per cent
Carterton South
Tammy Abarno (Conservative) – 518 votes – ELECTED
Tony Barrett (Green Party) – 85
Kate England (Labour) – 46
Natalie King (Reform UK) – 440
Gemma Yallop (Liberal Democrat) – 293
Electorate 3,697; turnout 37.52 per cent
Chipping Norton
Sandra Coleman (Liberal Democrat) – 745 votes – ELECTED
Claire Lasko (Green Party) – 409
Darren Marshall (Reform UK) – 622
Caspar Morris (Conservative) – 364
Sian O’Neill (Labour) – 338
Electorate 5,682; turnout 43.73 per cent
Ducklington
Liam Mackenzie (Conservative) – 470 votes – ELECTED
Richard Langridge (Reform UK) – 265
Georgia Meadows (Labour) – 33
Ben Morel-Allen (Liberal Democrat) – 309
Penny Poynton (Green Party) – 44
Electorate 2,225; turnout 50.47 per cent
Eynsham and Cassington
Carl Rylett (Liberal Democrat) – 1,156 votes – ELECTED
Adam Compton (Conservative) – 417
Penny Garner (Green Party) – 337
Michael Grant (Reform UK) – 466
Nick Melliss – (Labour) – 112
Electorate 5,132; turnout 48.60 per cent
Freeland and Hanborough
Toby Morris (Conservative) – 808 votes – ELECTED
Lidia Arciszewska (Liberal Democrat) – 785
Ann Russell (Reform UK) – 235
Miranda Shaw (Green Party) – 151
James Smith (Labour) – 54
Electorate 4,064; turnout 50.17 per cent
Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt
Sandra Cosier (Liberal Democrat) – 981 votes – ELECTED
Daniel Eisenhandler (Green Party) – 81
Peter Mildenhall (Reform UK) – 363
Lysette Nicholls (Conservative) – 516
Sachin Thorogood (Labour) – 30
Electorate 3,845; turnout 51.37 per cent
The Bartons
Dave Jackson (Liberal Democrat) 435 votes – ELECTED
Ian Hames (Labour) – 13
Mary Robertson (Green Party) – 15
Matt Sydenham (Reform UK) – 117
. Mandi Tandi (Conservative) – 250
Electorate 1,549; turnout 53.71 per cent
Witney East
James Robertshaw (Conservative) – 978 votes – ELECTED
George Brown (Liberal Democrat) – 633
Lawrence Haar (Reform UK) – 398
Alex Houlton (Green Party) – 223
Ruth Smith (Labour) – 574
Electorate 5,782; turnout 48.67 per cent
Witney South
Jack Treloar (Conservative) – 658 votes – ELECTED
Mike Brooker (Labour) – 427
Ross Kelly (Reform UK) – 474
Harriet Marshall (Green Party) – 194
Peter Whitten (Liberal Democrat) – 289
Electorate 4,856; turnout 42.09 per cent
Woodstock and Bladon
Hannah Massie (Liberal Democrat) – 772 votes – ELECTED
James Gibbs (Reform UK) – 261
Sammy McDonald (Labour) – 101
Eric Sukumaran (Conservative) – 463
Barry Wheatley (Green Party) – 246
Electorate 3,763; turnout 49.11 per cent
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