Asylum Seeker With 67 Offences Avoids Further Punishment After Revealing His Difficult Situation to Court
A homeless asylum seeker committed many offences while struggling with drug use and a lack of support, a court heard.
Amgad Abouelazm, 33, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court in Huddersfield. He admitted stealing two bottles of perfume worth £40 from TK Maxx in Huddersfield town centre in July. He also admitted having a small bag of cannabis.
The court heard that Abouelazm had been homeless and claimed he was not receiving any support from the Home Office at the time. However, his situation has since changed. He is now receiving Home Office support and has been given somewhere to live.
Magistrates were told that Abouelazm has a long criminal record. He has 23 previous convictions covering 67 offences. Of those offences, 51 involved theft or similar crimes, including stealing items from vehicles. He has also spent time in prison in the past.
The court was told that these two latest offences should have been dealt with during an earlier hearing, when Abouelazm received a suspended prison sentence.
Abouelazm, who now lives on Leeds Road in Deighton, Huddersfield, has reportedly been working well with the Probation Service. He has also been receiving help from the drug and alcohol recovery charity Change Grow Live.
Because the offences should have been considered at the previous hearing, magistrates gave him a conditional discharge. This means he will not receive further punishment for these offences unless he commits another crime during the period set by the court. He was also ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge.
The magistrates did not order him to pay court costs or compensation. They were told that he receives only £76 in benefits and has very little money available.
