Syrian man found guilty of raping a young woman in a portaloo on Bournemouth beach

Throughout the trial, Abdullah, who gave evidence with the help of an Arabic interpreter, denied all allegations, claiming that what took place was consensual and that he "asked her more than once".

However, Mr Eldridge, prosecuting, told jurors in his closing speech "she did not consent at all," and "she simply wanted to go home".

As the verdict came in, the victim broke down in court.

The incident took place in the early hours of July 6th 2025, after the victim, 19, was out celebrating her birthday.

The court heard that she had become intoxicated and separated from friends and was attempting to arrange a taxi home when her phone died.

With limited options, the prosecution told the court that she approached a group of men on the beach “who looked to be in their early 20s” to ask for directions.

Describing the victim, Abdullah told the court “everything about her was normal".

But in the closing, the prosecution urged the jury to “consider the condition she was in” at the time of the incident.

In Abdullah’s interview with the police, he told them "she wanted to go home, I thought I could help her by giving her a lift".

Instead, the teen migrant took her a short distance along the beach, before stopping at a portaloo.

In the prosecution's case, a witness was called upon, a passerby, who described the defendant trying to take the victim behind the toilets.

The witness, concerned enough to speak out, shouted at Abdullah "I hope you're not going to do anything with her".

Mr Eldridge told the court that the Syrian national then "grabbed the victim's arm and dragged her inside the Portaloo, then shut the door and locked it," and proceeded to rape her.

The jury then heard the victim recall that “when he finished with me” Abdullah exited the public toilet, and rode away towards his friends in the distance.

In her police interview, the young woman said she was afraid to resist as “there were more of them than there were me.”

The defence told the jury that Abdullah arrived in the UK in September 2023 as part of the ‘Family Reunion Scheme’ and his entire family now have permanent leave to remain.

The Syrian national was 16 when he came to the UK, and is now residing in West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Mr Richarch Tutt, defending, said that he is now studying English here, as well as working part time as a trainee barber.