A Brazilian national who raped a young woman in central London and then attempted to wash away forensic evidence before fleeing to Denmark has been jailed for more than five years.
Hassan Alsarout, 22, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting the attack, which took place in a secluded spot on Euston Road in the early hours of 9 October 2025. He received a prison term of five years and seven months, was placed on the sex offenders register for life, and will be deported from the UK once his sentence is complete.
What detectives uncovered in the hours after the attack
The Metropolitan Police traced Alsarout within a day of the offence, leaning heavily on CCTV and digital forensics to establish his movements. Officers identified him through what investigators described as “detailed CCTV and digital analysis which uncovered a phone call” made shortly after the attack.
That work revealed he had already left London for the West Midlands by the time a nationwide search was launched. Detectives tracked him to an address in Coventry, where it became clear he was preparing to board a flight to Denmark the following day. He was arrested on 10 October, less than 24 hours after the assault, and questioned and charged within hours. On 20 February, he pleaded guilty to rape.
During his police interview, Alsarout told an officer bluntly: “I didn’t commit rape”. Further inquiries, however, established that he had washed his clothing in the immediate aftermath of the attack in what officers concluded was an attempt to destroy forensic material.
Why the speed of the arrest mattered
The case has been presented by the Met as an illustration of how quickly well-resourced investigations can close in on suspects who attempt to leave the country. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley, who led the inquiry, said his team “acted with absolute urgency to identify, locate and arrest Alsarout”, adding that their work “stopped him fleeing the United Kingdom and ensured he was brought to justice”.
He also paid tribute to the victim, whose account he described as pivotal. “I want to commend the victim for her bravery and resilience in coming forward and supporting the investigation,” he said. “Her evidence was crucial in bringing this offender to justice and preventing harm to other women across the country.”
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A wider push on violence against women
DCI Ridley framed the outcome as reflective of the force’s broader strategy on violence against women and girls, pointing to what he called a “proactive approach that puts victims first and ensures they are fully supported by specialist teams throughout”.
With his sentence now handed down and deportation to follow, Alsarout will serve his time in the UK before being removed from the country at its conclusion.
