Asylum seeker who smashed down door to ransack flat gets reduced sentence after he tells of his ‘traumatic experience’ in Palestine

An asylum seeker who smashed his way into a flat to grab cash and valuables worth £4,000 has been given a reduced sentence because of the trauma he suffered in Palestine.

Egyptians Ahmed Farag, 26, and Wahid Abouhilak, 34, along with Palestinian Ahmad Nowara, 26, ransacked the flat in Hillingdon, west London, while their victim was at work.

Isleworth Crown Court heard the three men, who came to the UK as asylum seekers, stole jewellery, car keys, and a two-kilo box of coins, worth up to £4,000, on 6 November last year.

They appeared in the dock, aided by an Arabic interpreters, while their relatives looked on from the public gallery.

Prosecutor Tom Barclay said Farag, who was four months into his suspended sentence for handling stolen goods, kept a ‘lookout’ while the others ‘ransacked’ the flat for valuables.

He said the tenant of the flat had left for work on the day when the men forced their way into the property at around 11:30am and left significant damage to his front door.

He added: ‘The incident left the victim scared, nervous and worried for the safety of their children.’

Sentencing Farag and Nowara, the judge, Ms Recorder Sarah Bergstrom said: ‘I am sentencing you both for a dwelling burglary.

‘On 6 November 2025, at about 11:30am you both burgled a flat in Peaberry Court in Hillingdon.

‘The tenant of the property left it secure at 8:20am that morning, and approximately £2-4,000 worth of jewellery cash and vehicle keys were taken.

‘There was also substantial damage to the door and frame of approximately £2,000.

‘CCTV tracked your movements that day, in total there were four people involved in the burglary.

‘Nowara remained outside initially while Abouhilak used tools to open the door, and Nowara, you then entered the property after him at 11:40am.

‘Farag was watching from North Hyde Road and acted as a lookout.

‘You all reconvened with the stolen items from the burglary.’

The judge added: ‘The victim says that she found her property ransacked, and she says she is scared to be at the flat now without her husband being there.

‘These sorts of offences have a devastating impact on victims of these offences.’

The judge sentenced Nowara to 12 months’ imprisonment, noting he has demonstrated ‘remorse’ and was previously of good character with two young children at home.

She added: ‘I also take into account your difficult personal circumstances, including traumatic experiences and challenges, and the circumstances in which you came to this country as a refugee.’

The judge told Farag: ‘It is accepted by the prosecution that your culpability is lower because you had a lesser role and there was no planning.’

But she said he burglary was carried out while subject to a suspended sentence imposed on 10 July last year for handling stolen goods.

‘And the new offence was committed four months into the suspended sentence.’

He was jailed for a total of 53 weeks, including nine weeks from his suspended term.

Farag’s fiancée wept as his sentence was passed. She put her head in her hands, comforted by equally emotional family members beside her.

Abouhilak also faces separate offences for theft and will be sentenced later.

Abouhilak has five previous convictions for 13 offences, including burglary and criminal damage.

Farag, of no fixed address, Nowara, of Hillingdon and Abouhilak, of Enfield, north London, all admitted burglary.