Migrants convicted of Cologne assaults dodge jail despite judge branding them ‘animals’
Their victims were reduced to tears in court as they recounted the assaults
TWO men who acted like “animals” and were found guilty of sexual assault on New Year’s Eve in Cologne cheered as they left court after receiving suspended sentences.
The men’s victims had wept in court as they recounted the assaults, with one girl saying she screamed “no, no, no!” as the man tried to grab her buttocks and fondled her.
The men are the first to be dealt for sex crimes following the mass frenzy in the city on the last day of the year when dozens of immigrant men sexually molested and robbed hundreds of women.
Hussein A, a 21-year-old Iraqi, was given a one-year suspended jail term after kissing a young woman against her will and then licking her face.
Judge Gerd Krämer told the court: “We see that as sexual assault.
“He forced the victim to accept the kiss and lick.”
Speaking via a translator Hussein A said “I apologise for what happened.”
Hassan T, a 26-year-old Algerian man, was also found guilty of being an accomplice to a sexual assault carried out by a group of around 20 men.
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The 26-year-old told a man who was walking with two female victims “Give me the girls, give me the girls - or you’re dead.”
The court said this was attempted assault. Hassan T. was also handed a one-year suspended jail term. Hassan T. has been in Germany since autumn 2014, Hussein A. since September 2015.
On the same day they were sentenced, Thursday, the German parliament voted to significantly tighten up the national laws concerning rape in a measure dubbed 'no means no.'
The court said this was attempted assault. Hassan T. was also handed a one-year suspended jail term.
Hassan T. has been in Germany since autumn 2014, Hussein A. since September 2015.
Both the accused took pictures with their two victims before the sexual assaults. The two women broke down and wept while testifying against them.
Jennifer W., 27, sobbed as she described how she was grabbed on her buttocks and then fondled by another man while a third tried to plunder cash from her purse.
Her friend Lena S. told how she screamed 'NO! NO! NO!' when attacked.
They had travelled to Cologne on December 30th with the 27-year-old's fiance to watch a planned firework spectacular over the Rhine.