Woman sexually assaulted on plane - court hears

A female plane passenger has told a court how she awoke mid-air to find the man sitting next to her sexually assaulting her.

The 24-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she tried to force the man she had never met before off her, before reporting the assault to cabin crew.

Momade Jussab, 66, originally from Mozambique, was arrested when the Qatar Airways flight from Doha landed at Gatwick in September 2024, the jury at Lewes Crown Court, sitting in Brighton, heard.

In a recorded interview, the woman told police she had woken up to find Mr Jussab sexually assaulting her and her clothing had been rearranged.

She said: "I told him to stop.

"He said 'no, please' and he was trying to continue."

The court heard Mr Jussab told police the woman was "asking for it".

"Men are dogs, I lost control, I accept it," he told police.

Mr Jussab, of Feltham in west London, told police the young woman had provoked him and lied to get him into trouble.

"She took advantage of me – leading me into a trap," he told police.

Prosecutor Jonathan Atkinson told the jury: "He said he didn't think she was asleep because she appeared to be making a moaning sound."

The woman told police she initially thought the man was being friendly and acting like a grandad when he offered to tuck her in, the court heard.

Mr Atkinson said the woman was the victim of an "opportunistic sexual assault, taking advantage of her when she was asleep".

Momade Jussab denies assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

The trial continues.

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