Asylum Seeker Tried to Chat Up Three Young Women Outside a Nightclub, But What Happened After They Rejected Him Left One Unconscious

A 35-year-old asylum seeker has been jailed after knocking a young woman unconscious with a single punch when she rejected his advances outside a nightclub.

Abdoela Berhan attacked 21-year-old Cleo Lake outside Cameo nightclub in Bournemouth, Dorset, in December 2024. The assault happened after he approached Miss Lake and her two friends late at night and tried to join them while they were sitting outside the venue.

According to Miss Lake, Berhan sat down next to them and attempted to put his arm around one of her friends. She said the group did not know him and felt uncomfortable because it was dark and there was nobody else nearby. She told him to leave them alone, but instead of walking away, the situation quickly became heated.

The pair argued, with both exchanging angry words. Miss Lake said Berhan moved very close to her, so she pushed him away to create some space. He then tried to kick her but missed. She responded by kicking him back. Moments later, Berhan pulled back his left arm and punched her directly in the face with such force that she was knocked unconscious.

CCTV footage shown in court captured the shocking moment Miss Lake collapsed onto the pavement after the punch. She remained motionless on the ground while Berhan immediately ran away from the scene.

Miss Lake later told the court that watching the CCTV footage was extremely upsetting. She said it was difficult to see herself being attacked, while her mother gasped in horror inside Southampton Magistrates’ Court as the footage was played.

At first, her friends did not realise how badly she had been hurt because they were standing a short distance away. They initially thought she had simply fallen asleep, but quickly realised she was unconscious and needed urgent medical help. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to hospital. After waiting around four hours without being seen, she eventually returned home.

The full extent of her injuries became clear later when she visited her GP because her nose had become crooked. Doctors confirmed it had been broken during the assault.

The attack left Miss Lake suffering not only physical injuries but also lasting emotional trauma. She told the court that she became anxious about going out after the incident and developed a fear of being around men.

She explained that even a year and a half later, she still does not feel comfortable going clubbing unless she is with a large group or someone else’s boyfriend is present because she worries another violent incident could happen. She said the experience completely changed the way she feels about nights out and personal safety.

When Berhan was later arrested, he denied attacking Miss Lake unlawfully and claimed he had been acting in self-defence. He told police he had simply approached the three women to ask for a lighter. According to him, one of the women swore at him and tried to intimidate him. He claimed he only used his elbows to protect himself and insisted he never intended to assault anyone.

However, the court rejected his version of events after reviewing the CCTV footage.

District Judge Orla Austin said the evidence clearly showed that Berhan’s advances towards Miss Lake had been rejected and that she had every right to refuse him. The judge said the violence used against the young woman was extremely serious and found that Berhan’s claim of self-defence was completely contradicted by the video evidence.

The judge also criticised him for denying the offence throughout the case, forcing Miss Lake to relive the traumatic incident during a trial instead of accepting responsibility.

Describing the attack as an exceptional case because of its seriousness, Judge Austin said Miss Lake had simply rejected unwanted advances before suffering a brutal assault.

She sentenced Berhan to the maximum penalty available for the offence at the magistrates’ court, ordering him to serve six months in prison.