Sex attacker jailed for nine months has gone home to Pakistan

An airline passenger who put a sleeping businesswoman through a humiliating sex attack at 30,000 feet is being hunted by police
after he jumped bail.

Asghar Hasnain, 29, repeatedly groped the victim while sitting next to her on the eight-hour flight from Chicago to Heathrow on 2 September 2019.

Hasnain initially touched the victim’s leg and the woman apologised thinking she may have accidentally nudged Hasnain as she slept.

The victim awoke again to find Hasnain was stroking and touching her thigh.

She told him to stop, but Hasnain began rubbing her legs and crotch area.

The victim immediately yelled ‘stop touching me’ and was finally seated away from Hasnain.

One witness believed Hasnain and the complainant were a couple because of the intimate way Hasnain had been touching her, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

After landing Hasnain denied touching the woman and suggested she was drunk.

When another passenger said he witnessed the sex assault, he still denied it.

Hasnain was living as a student in London at the time of the offence but has since left the country to Pakistan to live with family.

He failed to attend his trial in March and was convicted of sexual assault by a jury in his absence.

A warrant was issued for his arrest and a sentencing date set in the hope he would be found but he is still on the run, the court heard.

Kim Preston, prosecuting, said Hasnain had targeted a ‘particularly vulnerable person due to her travelling alone.

‘The complainant was largely trapped in her seat as the assault starts and develops.

‘The victim does not know how long she had been touched before she awoke.’

Gwen Williamson, defending, said the victim ‘did not know Hasnain but simply had the misfortune of sitting next to him on the flight.

‘He tried to take advantage of the situation by touching her, gaining confidence each time and hoping she would not notice because she was asleep.’

Judge Lindsey Rose said:‘It wasn’t a fleeting incident, there were three incidents that increased in severity.

‘Hasnain took advantage of the situation, ending on the final occasion, for his own sexual gratification, thinking no doubt he could get away with it.

‘He has provided no explanation as to why he committed this offence and he believed he could get away with it.’

Judge Rose described it as a ‘humiliating assault’ which has left the woman feeling vulnerable.

Reading from her impact statement the judge added: ‘It will be a considerable time since she will feel able to carry out her life without fear of men.’

Judge Rose added: ‘This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed.’

Hasnain, of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine months in his absence but a warrant for his arrest remains outstanding.
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