Description
Osamah Al-Haddad, a 26-year-old Yemeni migrant, was found with disturbing child abuse material and bestiality videos on his phone after arriving at Heathrow Airport from Cairo in January 2024.
The explicit videos were discovered during a routine search as part of his asylum screening. Among them was a Category A video involving bestiality, which the judge later described as “grotesque” and “depraved.” Al-Haddad had entered the UK on a student visa and later sought asylum, claiming he faced persecution from the Houthis for refusing to join their military efforts.
Despite admitting to three counts of making indecent photos of children and one count of making a pseudo-image, Al-Haddad insisted he had no sexual interest in children and claimed the videos were sent to him via WhatsApp. However, the court questioned his credibility, noting the files had been saved on his device since 2021 and were not deleted. Judge Fiona Barrie emphasized the serious nature of the crimes and the real harm to the children depicted in the videos.
Al-Haddad was handed a 30-week suspended sentence, meaning he will not serve prison time unless he reoffends within a year. He was also placed under a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and must complete 150 hours of unpaid community work. The case has raised questions about the UK’s asylum policies, particularly in light of recent government proposals to bar foreign sex offenders from asylum protections—a policy that only applies to those sentenced to more than a year.
Despite the conviction, Al-Haddad's asylum application remains active. He currently resides in Plymouth, Devon, where he works at a restaurant and earns around £781 per month, most of which he reportedly sends to his wife and child in Yemen. His defense highlighted his desire to reunite with his family in the UK and continue supporting them financially.
After the sentencing, Al-Haddad was seen outside Isleworth Crown Court appearing indifferent, giving a thumbs up to a passerby filming him and denying knowledge of the images' source. The incident has sparked public outrage, as critics argue that individuals convicted of such offences should face harsher penalties, including deportation, especially when they are seeking refuge in the country.