Why WAS sex predator still at large in UK?
AN illegal immigrant who subjected his Scots victim to a terrifying sex attack has been jailed for 11 years.
Joseph Mjemer, 36, assaulted the woman as she slept on New Year’s Day last year.
At Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Mjemer was jailed for attempted rape.
Since arriving in the UK in 2003, he has lived in cities across Britain – including Glasgow – and has used 27 aliases to commit 60 crimes, including drug offences and assault.
He was taken into Home Office ‘administrative custody’ in 2007 while officials attempted to establish his asylum claim – but was granted legal aid to sue. In 2011, he won £17,360 compensation after claiming he had been illegally detained and was left with psychiatric difficulties.
He was served with a deportation order in April but is challenging it on the basis he has no home country, having previously claimed to be British, Italian, Moroccan and Algerian.
A trial heard Mjemer attacked his victim at her flat in Carlisle. She said she woke to find him trying to have sex with her.
She added: ‘It has impacted every aspect of my life ever since. At the time I was working at a job I loved. My dream job.
‘I moved to Carlisle from Scotland and was making life-long friends. After this happened I had to go home to be with my family.
‘I had to return to Carlisle for a medical appointment and went with my parents to my flat to pick up some things. I went inside the flat and quickly realised I couldn’t be there.
‘I realised I couldn’t be in Carlisle any more. I gave up my dream job. I went back to my family home, knowing I could never return to Carlisle.’ She added: ‘I am constantly putting myself through the reliving of it. I felt I had hit rock bottom at the trial. I never had suicidal thoughts before but at this time I actually harmed myself.
‘I’ve since agreed that counselling is needed. I am desperate to move on from this and get on with my life.’
The court heard the attack took place after Mjemer had been thrown off a train at Carlisle en route from Glasgow to London. He went to Concrete nightclub in the city and began chatting to the woman before they walked to her flat.
The woman fell asleep but woke to find Mjemer naked next to her. She pushed him away and rang police as he fled.
He was arrested after CCTV captured him getting a coach back to Glasgow.
During the trial, prosecutor Adam Lodge said: ‘A deportation order was issued in April, but he’s challenging it on the basis that he comes from an area that isn’t Morocco so, technically, is stateless and therefore can’t be deported.’
Judge Paul Lawton told Mjemer: ‘You treated her as a sexual object for your own gratification, with no concern for her feelings or wellbeing.
‘It may be that upon your release from prison you are deported, but that is a matter for the Home Office.’