A young woman’s night out in Cardiff city centre turned into a terrifying ordeal when she was followed and attacked in the early hours of the morning.

The victim had been leaving the Pulse nightclub, a popular LGBTQ+ venue, when she noticed a man trailing her, eventually assaulting her under a railway bridge in the Cathays student area.

CCTV Footage Captures Predatory Behavior

Footage obtained from the nightclub shows the attacker, 33-year-old Fawaz Alsamaou, wandering near the entrance and then moving to the dancefloor before following the victim as she left the club.

CCTV captured him trailing her at a short distance before he grabbed her by the neck and carried out a sexual assault that lasted several seconds.

Victim Shares Lasting Impact of Assault

The woman, whose identity has been protected, described how the attack has left a profound mark on her life.

“I’m always looking over my shoulder and thinking the worst,” she said.

For weeks, she was unable to leave her home or work, and she continues to experience nightmares and anxiety, affecting her social and professional life.

Police Trace Attacker Across the Country

Police investigations, including CCTV analysis, identified Alsamaou and traced him to Yorkshire, where he had been living as an asylum seeker since arriving in the UK from Syria.

Despite having no previous convictions in the UK, he admitted to sexual assault and intentional strangulation.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

At Newport Crown Court, Alsamaou’s guilty pleas were acknowledged, though his defense argued he did not fully accept responsibility, which complicated mitigation efforts.

Judge Celia Hughes highlighted the severity of the attack, emphasizing that the victim had the right to walk home safely.

Prison Sentence and Deportation

Alsamaou was sentenced to 37 months in prison for sexual assault.

Judge Hughes noted that he is “highly likely to be deported” after serving his sentence.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of women walking alone at night and the lasting effects such attacks can have on victims’ mental health and daily lives.