An asylum seeker from Gaza has appeared in court over attempts to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex. The Palestinian man had tried to fix a meeting with a child, who, it is reported, is thought to have been a decoy.
Al-Najjar Amir Abdulrahim, 30, is alleged to have had “sexual communications” with the supposed under-age target over 57 days until last Saturday, September 19. He has been studying English at a college in Stockton-on-Tees, in County Durham.
The asylum seeker was arrested and held last weekend after he attempted to meet the 14-year-old with the intention to “engage in sexual activity”, a court heard.
The Sun reports the Palestinian was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming. According to the paper, magistrates in Manchester remanded Abdulrahim in custody to appear at the city’s crown court next month.
It was decided no conditions were available to reduce the risk he would offend while on bail, but it is reported he was not considered a flight risk.
Abdulrahim gave no indication of his plea during a short hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
It’s reported the Gazan met with the Home Office earlier this month for an interview regarding his immigration status, and it is not known how or when the asylum seeker arrived in Britain from Gaza.
There is no specific visa scheme for Palestinian refugees in the UK and they are not eligible for resettlement programs like those available for Ukrainian citizens.
