An Iranian asylum seeker who denied attempting to rape a woman by claiming he had a “micropenis” has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Hossein Mohmoudi, 37, arrived in the UK after piloting a small boat across the Channel. In December 2024, he stalked a 43-year-old woman as she walked home from a Christmas party before attacking her in an alleyway.
He followed her for almost an hour, including onto a bus, and only abandoned the assault when a passerby intervened. Mohmoudi has now been jailed for 11 years.
During his trial, Mohmoudi insisted the attack could not have taken place because he had a “micropenis”. Judge Sarah-Jane Griffiths later described him as a “dangerous sexual predator”.
Two doctors were sent to his cell to measure his penis and examine the claim.
Consultant urologist Dr George Fowlis told Snaresbrook Crown Court that Mohmoudi’s penis was “normal”.
Mohmoudi also argued that obesity, smoking and depression had left him with a low libido.
The claim was challenged after the court heard that Mohmoudi had been using a fetish website before the attack. He said he had joined the site only to practise his English.
Hossein Mohmoudi, an Iranian migrant, has been jailed for trying to rape a woman in an alleyway after stalking her back from a Christmas party
Judge Griffiths told him: “I do not believe for one moment that you were on that site to learn, or improve, your English.”
She added: “I also find that you were clearly able to have sexual intercourse. The evidence against you was overwhelming.”
Jurors also heard that Mohmoudi had received an email from a sperm bank regarding an application to donate.
Mohmoudi left Iran in 2014 and entered Turkey, Greece, Germany and France illegally before travelling to Britain. While in Germany, he was convicted twice of assault and three times of criminal damage.
The judge noted that, three months before the attempted rape, Mohmoudi had “terrified” another woman by following her home, waiting outside and “looking in for a considerable period of time”, leading her to call police.
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Prosecutor Christiaan Moll said Mohmoudi had also stalked a barmaid in south-west London and repeatedly harassed another woman by emailing her at work.
Judge Griffiths said: “I have no doubt you were wandering the streets in the early hours looking to see if there was anyone around you could take advantage of.”
She said the offence had caused “severe psychological harm” and added: “You have shown no remorse at all.”
Mohmoudi followed the woman for three miles, from Whitechapel to Stratford.
The court was shown footage of Mohmoudi following his victim and crossing the road whenever she did. A gate blocked the view of the assault itself, but the woman could be heard screaming: “Wait! Wait! Wait! F*** you! F*** off! F*** you! F*** off!”
The attack lasted 27 seconds before a cyclist intervened. The victim said the cyclist had “saved” her.
The victim said: ‘I thought you were going to kill me that night if you hadn’t been interrupted. You still might… You completely destroyed my life.’
Because Mohmoudi denied the attack, he could not be forced into an STD test – so his victim was left with ‘no choice but to take medication to prevent HIV and hepatitis B’.
She said: ‘The side effects of the first month of taking HIV meds on my stomach, my weight and my energy were a horrific extension of what you did to me.
‘December used to be a time I looked forward to. Now, when the Christmas lights go up and the party invitations come in, my body knows the anniversary is coming before my mind does.’
Judge Griffiths sentenced Mohmoudi to 11 years in prison and gave him an extended licence period of four years.
He will serve two-thirds of his custodial sentence before being assessed for parole, and will be liable for deportation after his custodial sentence is served.
Detective Inspector Thomas Meaden, who led the Metropolitan Police’s investigation, said: ‘The victim has shown great strength throughout what has been an extremely hard experience. I hope this outcome provides some measure of justice.
‘Mohmoudi is a predator who poses danger to any women and girls he may cross. Had he not been interrupted by a brave member of the public, he intended to commit further harm.’
