{"id":64236,"date":"2025-08-13T15:08:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/64236\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T15:08:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:08:10","slug":"asylum-seeker-at-epping-migrant-hotel-is-charged-with-sexual-assault-after-ethiopian-charged-for-attacking-girls-in-a-separate-incident-sparked-huge-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/64236\/","title":{"rendered":"Asylum seeker at Epping migrant hotel is charged with sexual assault after Ethiopian charged for ‘attacking girls’ in a separate incident sparked huge protests"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JON BRADY, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER<\/a> and ISAAC CROWSON<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 09:46 EDT, 13 August 2025 | Updated: 10:59 EDT, 13 August 2025 <\/p>\n

A migrant residing at the asylum seeker hotel at the centre of a series of recent protests has been charged with a litany of offences including sexual assault – weeks after another migrant was charged in connection with an unrelated, separate incident.<\/p>\n

Mohammed Sharwarq, a Syrian national living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, faces seven charges linked to offences alleged to have been committed between July 25 and August 12.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old\u00a0is facing two counts of common assault, four counts of assault by beating and a single count of sexual assault on a man, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2002.<\/p>\n

Essex Police said they arrested a 32-year-old man after being called to the Bell Hotel in Epping on August 12 before taking him in for questioning.<\/p>\n

Sharwarq was then charged and was due to appear in court today.<\/p>\n

\"Police <\/p>\n

Police are pictured outside the Bell Hotel on July 31 on an unrelated matter. The Epping hotel is being used to house migrants<\/p>\n

\"Protests <\/p>\n

Protests began outside the hotel a month ago (protesters on August 8 pictured)<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The hotel has been put behind fencing to separate it from protesters (pictured: notices attached to a security fence)<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Mohammed Sharwarq, a Syrian national who resides at The Bell Hotel, Epping has been charged with the following offences: two counts of common assault; four counts of assault by beating; one count of sexual assault on a male contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.<\/p>\n

‘The offences are alleged to have taken place between 25 July and 12 August.<\/p>\n

‘He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates\u2019 Court today, Wednesday 13 August.<\/p>\n

‘Officers are not currently seeking any other suspects in relation with this case.’<\/p>\n

The Bell Hotel has been at the epicentre of a series of anti-immigration protests held outside asylum seeker accommodation after a separate incident in which an Ethiopian migrant was charged with a series of unrelated sexual offences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hadush Kebatu, 38, has appeared in court to deny three charges of sexual assault against two girls aged 14 and 16, inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.<\/p>\n

Kebatu is alleged to have put his hand on a 14-year-old schoolgirl’s leg, asked her for a kiss and suggested they make ‘Jamaican babies’ in Epping over two days, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court was told.<\/p>\n

He had arrived in the UK by small boat days prior to the alleged offences being committed, said to have happened between July 6 and 9.<\/p>\n

Scenes of protesters waving St George’s flags outside the Essex lodings have since spread to other accommodation across the country.<\/p>\n

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