A "PREDATORY and opportunistic" sex offender attempted to rape a woman as she slept.

Amro Badawi has been jailed for 13 years following a sexual assault in a flat above a Southampton restaurant.

Facing three charges, the 28-year-old was found guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration following a five day trial at Southampton Crown Court in December.

Badawi, of Mandela Way, Southampton, who had been working as a chef at the time of the incident, was found not guilty of a single count of rape.

The court heard how in the early hours of August 11, 2018, the woman awoke to a man lying behind her, sexually assaulting her. The woman froze in fear before the man then attempted to rape her.

According to police, she managed to shout and push him off her, before he returned to his room - which he was renting in the same flat as she was temporarily staying in.

It was heard that it was once the man had stood up that she was able identify him as Badawi, and told police what happened to her.

Daily Echo:

During sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC branded him a danger to women and said his behaviour had been "predatory and opportunistic".

He jailed him for 13 years.

Detective Constable Sue Hampton from Operation Amberstone said “The victim was asleep when Badawi went into her room, removed her underwear and proceeded to sexually assault her before attempting to rape her for his own self-gratification.

“Badawi is an opportunist and a danger to women and I would like to commend the victim for her courage in disclosing what happened that night and for giving evidence in court so that he could be brought to justice.

“I welcome today’s sentence and hope that it brings some closure to the victim and allows her to move on in her life.

“I also hope it encourages other victims of rape and serious sexual offences to come forward and report what happened.

“In cases such as these, we work in partnership with Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Services to ensure adequate support is available victims throughout investigations. We hope that the strength of this partnership working alongside convictions like this, encourage victims to come forward and report their experiences to us.”