Somali refugee burglar targeted women in Wales

South Wales Echo:

A man who burgled more than 30 homes, targeting women, sexually assaulting one and leaving a trail of terror was yesterday locked up for public protection.

Somali refugee Yousouf Abdullahi - rescued from his war-torn country by a charity - had conducted a campaign of crime across his adopted city of Cardiff.

Yesterday he was told by Judge Neil Bidder, QC, at Cardiff Crown Court that he will not be released until the parole board are satisfied he is no risk to women then he will be thrown out of the UK.

In clear reference to the storm which greeted the sentence of paedophile Craig Sweeney and passing an 'indeterminate' term on Abdullahi, Judge Bidder said: 'As I believe it is now more widely understood, I have by the legislation binding on me, to fix a minimum you will be in prison. The sentence (if it were not indeterminate) would have been seven years - of which you would have served three-and-a-half years.

'Because you have served 317 days on remand, the minimum sentence will be two years and 230 days.

'But I make it absolutely clear - you will only be released when it is safe.'

He recommended the asylum seeker who had 'brought shame on the close Somali community in Cardiff' should then be deported.

'There is a real, tangible risk that in future you will have the confidence to commit rape during a burglary. Your presence here is potentially detrimental to the UK.'

Abdullahi, 31, was living in a Bute Street hostel when he crept into houses across the city, mysteriously targeting those with vertical letterboxes because he was able to reach through.

Judge Bidder said he had no doubt he also targeted properties occupied by women.

Women were left traumatised after waking to find him in their bedrooms. One felt him removing her pyjama bottoms.

Burglar branded a menace to women

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