Afghan immigrant who fled to UK charged with sexually assaulting  girl

An immigrant who fled Afghanistan when the Taliban took power has appeared in court after being accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl walking her dog.

Gulahmad Oryakhail, 21, who was allowed into the UK under the Armed Forces resettlement scheme, is said to have forced his hands under the young teenager's bra and between her legs near Harbour Park Amusements in Littlehampton.

He appeared in custody at Crawley Magistrates' Court, where he was sent to Lewes Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 26.

He is charged with sexually assaulting the girl on October 25 and with stalking her between October 25 and October 27.

The court heard Oryakhail repeatedly kissed the schoolgirl on the lips and neck, while asking for sex and tried to drag her towards a more secluded area.

Prosecutor Mr Jeremy King said Oryakhail then bombarded the complainant with phone messages over the next two days and was arrested near her home address.

He has been in the UK for twelve months and lives with his parents.

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The girl's family were on the lookout for Oryakhail and were described by Mr King as 'angry and agitated' when police arrived to arrest him.

The prosecutor asked for the young Afghani to remain in custody because: 'He would be a real risk to vulnerable young people in the area.'

The magistrates agreed he should remain in custody. 

Long-haired and bearded Oryakhail, who required the assistance of an interpreter, had been riding his bike near the seafront and will contest the charges.

Oryakhail claims the girl told him she was 18 years old and had consented to sexual contact with him as well as voluntarily giving him her phone number.

Oryakhail, of Fairlight Court, Pier Road, Littlehampton, who works part-time in a local Wimpy bar, obtained UK residency via his brother, who assisted the British Armed Forces, enabling the entire family to settle in the UK.

In 2021 the UK government agreed that Afghan citizens, who had served with or assisted our Armed Forces, were entitled to permanent residency under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.

Their application can also include a partner, dependent children and additional family members and as of November 2023, there were still over 2000 eligible Afghans in the queue for UK residency.