Migrant who sexually assaulted girl, 7, worked for Taliban before arriving in UK | UK | News

An immigrant who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl in a taxpayer-funded hotel had previously written in his asylum application that he had been with the Taliban since childhood. 30-year-old Afshar Safi was found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a child and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

The incident took place at a hotel in Acton, west London, in September. Safi, who arrived in England in 2021, dragged the girl away from her mother with an apple and then dragged her down the corridor by holding her arm. The child managed to escape upon the notice of the security guards.

During the trial at Isleworth Crown Court the girl told jurors how scared she was.

“I couldn’t tell him to leave because I was so scared. He put his arms around me. It feels like he’s following me all the time. It feels like my nightmares are real, so sometimes I cry.”

Safi was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. He was also on the sex offenders register for seven years.

However, he can only be released on license after serving six months. Sun reports.

During the sentencing, it was revealed that Safi had stated in his asylum application that he had been with the Taliban since the age of ten.

His asylum claim was rejected and he is appealing the decision.

Speaking through a Pashto translator, Safi told the court: “I love children and he was a child. I asked him where he was going. I love children and he was a child too. I asked him where he was going.”

“She said she was waiting for her mother to go shopping. I kissed her on the face. I kissed her because of my love for children. Everyone at home does this.”

His lawyer said Safi was taken as a slave by the Taliban and received only three years of training.