Man jailed for sexually assaulting woman on flight to Gatwick
A man assaulted a woman whilst she slept on a flight from Qatar from Gatwick
A man who sexually assaulted a woman while she slept on board a long-haul flight to the UK has been jailed for six and a half years.
Momade Jussab, 66, of Swinfield Close, Feltham, was convicted of one count of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault following a trial in March. He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 12 May.
The incident occurred during a flight from Doha, Qatar, to Gatwick Airport on 28 September last year. Jussab was seated next to the victim — a woman in her 20s, whom he had never met before.
The woman awoke during the flight to find that Jussab was sexually assaulting her. After the aircraft landed, she reported the incident to police, and an investigation was launched. Jussab was arrested and later charged.
The court heard how the cabin lights had been dimmed and most passengers were asleep when the assault took place. The victim has since received support from specially trained officers and continues to deal with the emotional impact of the incident.
In a powerful victim impact statement read in court, she said: “It has felt so hard and so traumatising to think that anyone would ever want to do that to me.
"The shock and disbelief at what I have experienced will never go away and I will never understand how or why anyone would do that to a person.”
Jussab was handed an extended sentence, meaning he must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial term before being considered for parole. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Darren Taylor, from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, praised the victim's courage in coming forward: “This was a shocking case and a crime which has a long-term impact on the victim and other victims like her.
“Jussab preyed on the victim and committed these appalling sexual assaults. We are pleased that a dangerous offender is now in prison serving a significant custodial sentence.
“We continue to urge victims of sexual offences to come forward and report their experiences to the police. You will be supported, and we will do all we can to seek justice.”