A man has been jailed after trying to abduct a 19-year-old student in a terrifying broad-daylight attack outside a major UK train station. Osman Moalem, 25, of Brookdale, Widnes, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, after being found guilty of attempted kidnap.
The court was told the incident happened outside Liverpool Lime Street station on October 28 last year, when the victim was waiting to meet friends. Moalem walked up to her, reached out and said something she couldn’t understand. When she stepped back, he turned away – only to suddenly grab her arm and try to drag her away.
She shouted and struggled to get free, stumbling backwards onto some steps as he kept pulling her towards him.
Despite the commotion and the attention of passersby, Moalem refused to stop. Witnesses said he continued smirking as the girl screamed for help.
An elderly couple intervened and threatened to call the police, but Moalem was undeterred. Even after she managed to break free, he followed her into the station.
Station security alerted British Transport Police officers, who arrested him minutes later as he waited on a platform.
Investigating officer DC Olivia Hill said: “Despite crystal clear CCTV footage of the attempted kidnapping, Moalem had the audacity to deny it and has shown no remorse for his actions throughout the investigation.
“I know how terrifying this was for the victim and she’s bravely supported the investigation throughout. I hope that now that Moalem is behind bars, she can continue to make progress with her recovery.
“Thankfully we police a CCTV-rich environment and the quality of the footage, along with the victim’s testimony, was invaluable in securing Moalem’s conviction.
“Anyone who witnesses or experiences any crime on the railway is urged to text us on 61016 or call 999 in an emergency.”