An asylum seeker who assaulted a woman in Hyde Park has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.

Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela, a married father of one, encountered the victim while she was walking home alone from a night out in November 2024, in central London. He then manipulated her into a more isolated area where he proceeded to commit the act of rape.

Abouelela, who asserts that he was a political prisoner and a victim of torture in Egypt, is currently in the UK unlawfully, as noted by Judge Gregory Perrins at Southwark Crown Court.

Addressing the 42-year-old defendant, whose residence is listed as a hotel in Ealing, west London, Judge Perrins remarked, “Your actions were purely driven by your own sexual desires.”

The judge further stated, “It should have been evident to you that she was a woman alone and intoxicated, thus vulnerable.”

“You chose to exploit her fragility.”

Judge Perrins emphasized, “You showed no regard for the fact that she was unable to give consent; you simply took what you desired.”

The court heard that Abouelela arrived in the UK in April 2023, seeking asylum due to fears of persecution in Egypt.

His wife and son are currently living in Turkey, according to court testimonies.

Judge Perrins praised the victim for her “extraordinary bravery and courage” in testifying against Abouelela during his trial at the same court earlier this year.

The jury found Abouelela guilty of rape on May 22.

Due to his sentence exceeding 12 months, he will face an automatic deportation order.