Migrant caught with stash of child abuse

Al-Haddad, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of making indecent photos of children, and one count of making a pseudo-photograph of a child.A Yemeni migrant who entered the country with ‘grotesque’ child abuse videos on his phone gave the thumbs up as he left court. Osamah Al-Haddad, 26, was caught with three videos, including one showing a man having sex with a goat, when he flew into Heathrow Airport from Cairo in January 2024.

But he was spared jail over fears he may be forced to fight for the Houthis if returned to Yemen. Immigration officers uncovered the vile material when they searched his phone during asylum screening and found the vile material, said prosecutor James O’Connell. Mr O’Connell added: “The defendant was interviewed and made no comment to questions he was asked.”Read more: Moment migrants come seconds from drowning in heroic RNLI rescue mission

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Al-Haddad originally came to the UK on a student visa, then “claimed asylum after insisting the Houthis were seeking out his father in Yemen”, said John Hunter, defending.

Mr Hunter added: “The Houthis also asked the defendant where he was because they wanted him to join their army. As a result of that, he then applied for asylum.

“He is not able to return to Yemen, because of his fear of repercussions refusing to fight.”

Mr Hunter said Al-Haddad’s asylum application was pending, but he is allowed to live and work in Plymouth, Devon, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

He explained: “Although the defendant entered the country as an asylum seeker, he is now working in a restaurant.”He receives a monthly income of around £781 a month. He gives most to his wife and child back in Yemen, and he hopes to bring them to this country to live with him.”

Bearded Al-Haddad, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of making indecent photos of children, and one count of making a pseudo-photograph of a child.