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Sex offender who carried out string of attacks on lone women in Boston handed paltry sentence because crimes against children in his native Bulgaria cannot be taken into account after UK left EU




A Bulgarian sex offender who carried out a string of daytime attacks on lone women was unable to be deemed dangerous by a British judge because the UK has left the EU.

Judge Simon Hirst admitted he would have passed a sentence which meant Ali Hasan Ali, 32 - had three convictions for sexual assaults on children in his native country - would have been treated as a dangerous offender after he carried the attacks in Boston.

However, Judge Hirst, sitting at Lincoln Crown Court, said he was prevented from taking Ali's Bulgarian convictions into consideration when deciding the issue of dangerousness because of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

Ali Hasan Ali
Ali Hasan Ali

"The Government plainly did not consider that aspect," Judge Hirst explained.

The court heard Ali had three convictions for sexual assaults on children in his native Bulgaria and was only released from jail on December 15 last year.

Ali's convictions in Bulgaria included the use of a knife and threats to children to undress, the court was told.

Lincoln Crown Court
Lincoln Crown Court

Prosecution barrister David Eager said within three weeks of his release from jail Ali had begun his attacks in the Lincolnshire town after moving to the UK with his family.

The first incident occurred on January 10 when Ali came out of his home and exposed his penis to a female postal worker who was making deliveries on Skirbeck Road.

A second woman was also sexually assaulted on two different occasions as she walked along Skirbeck Road.

Mr Eager said Ali again exposed himself and was heard making ‘kissing and moaning’ noises.

It left his victim feeling frightened and intimidated.

Two other young women were also sexually assaulted by Ali as they walked near Boston College.

Mr Eager said Ali's assaults included the grabbing of breasts and touching one woman's vagina over clothing.

His final victim on February 28 only fled when she kicked Ali in the crotch after he thrusted towards her.

Ali was arrested by police the following day and told officers ‘it won't happen again’.

He was remanded into custody and a probation report concluded he was not suitable for treatment in the community.

Ali, of Skirbeck Road, Boston, admitted four charges of sexual assault and four charges of exposure between January 10 and February 28.

Leanne Summers, mitigating for Ali, said a psychological report had highlighted his limited intelligence.

Before passing sentence Judge Hirst made it clear he would have regarded Ali as a dangerous offender if he had been able to consider his Bulgarian convictions.

Under British law a court is able to impose an extended sentence or a life sentence if a defendant is convicted of a ‘specified offence and deemed dangerous’.

But Judge Hirst said his inability to take Ali's Bulgarian convictions into account meant he could only impose a determinate jail sentence of 28 months imprisonment on him.

"You will serve half of that in custody and then inevitably be deported," Judge Hirst told Ali.

Ali was also ordered to notify as a Sex Offender for ten years and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.



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