Migrant Avoids Jail and Deportation with Child Abuse Videos

A Migrant with Child Abuse Videos Avoids Jail and Deportation

A 26-year-old Yemeni migrant who was found with child abuse videos on his phone received a suspended sentence and was allowed to remain in the country instead of facing deportation. Osamah Al-Haddad, who entered the UK through Heathrow Airport from Cairo in January of last year, was caught with three videos, including one depicting a man engaging in sexual activity with a goat. Despite this, he was not sent to prison, as authorities feared he might be forced to join the Houthis if returned to Yemen.

The Isleworth Crown Court was informed that Haddad initially arrived in Britain on a student visa before applying for asylum. His reason for seeking asylum was that the Houthis were targeting his father. Under UK law, any asylum seeker who receives a prison sentence of more than a year can be denied asylum status and face deportation. However, Haddad was given a 30-week suspended sentence, allowing him to stay in the country while his application is being processed.

Fear of Repercussions in Yemen

James O’Connell, the prosecutor, stated that immigration officers discovered the material during a phone search as part of an asylum screening process. “The defendant did not respond to the questions asked during the interview,” O’Connell said.

John Hunter, Haddad’s defense lawyer, argued that the Houthis had also approached Haddad, trying to recruit him into their army. As a result, he sought asylum. “He cannot return to Yemen because of his fear of repercussions for refusing to fight,” Hunter explained.

Haddad’s asylum application is still pending, but he has been permitted to live and work in Plymouth, Devon. According to Hunter, Haddad now works in a restaurant and earns approximately £781 per month. He sends most of his earnings to his wife and child in Yemen and hopes to bring them to the UK to live with him.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Haddad admitted to three counts of making indecent photos of children and one count of creating a pseudo-photograph of a child. He claimed the images were sent to him by a friend via WhatsApp. An Arabic interpreter assisted him during the court proceedings.

Judge Fiona Barrie addressed Haddad, stating that he pleaded guilty to all charges. She highlighted the severity of the case, particularly the category-A video involving bestiality, which she described as “grotesque and depraved.” The judge noted that the videos were saved on Haddad’s phone since August 2021 and were not deleted, indicating that he had viewed them.

She also expressed concerns about Haddad’s honesty regarding his involvement with the content. “You claim you have no sexual interest in children and received the images from a WhatsApp group. But I share the concerns of the pre-sentence report which state that you are not entirely honest about that.”

As a result, Judge Barrie imposed a 30-week suspended sentence on Haddad. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.