A Syrian national living at an asylum seeker hotel in Epping has been charged with multiple offences, including sexual assault, just weeks after a separate case involving another migrant sparked large-scale protests outside the property.
Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, who resides at The Bell Hotel, faces:
- Two counts of common assault
- Four counts of assault by beating
- One count of sexual assault on a man under section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Essex Police said the alleged offences occurred between July 25 and August 12. Officers arrested Sharwarq at the Bell Hotel on August 12, and he has since been remanded in custody. He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.
Police confirmed no other suspects are being sought in connection with the case.
Hotel at centre of protests
The Bell Hotel has been the focus of weeks of anti-immigration demonstrations following an unrelated incident involving Hadush Kebatu, 38, an Ethiopian migrant charged with sexual offences against two teenage girls.
Prosecutors allege Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old in Epping between July 6 and 9, just days after arriving in the UK by small boat. He denies the charges, which include harassment and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The Kebatu case ignited high-profile protests outside the Epping hotel, with demonstrators waving St George’s flags and calling for stricter migrant vetting. Security fencing has since been erected around the property to separate it from crowds.
Essex Police say they are continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure public safety and prevent disorder.
