A Sudanese migrant who illegally entered the UK by piloting an overcrowded dinghy across the English Channel has been jailed for more than four years after a terrifying attempted kidnap of a 17-year-old girl in Swindon town centre. Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, 28, grabbed the horrified teenager from behind and dragged her across a road against her will as she walked home from work.

Chilling CCTV footage captured the brazen attack on March 6 this year at around 9pm in Princes Street, near the junction with Fleming Way. Adam, from Darfur, had persistently pestered the girl, asking about money, whether he could go home with her, and saying he had no girlfriend. She told him she was a minor and begged him to leave her alone. He initially walked away but returned, following her as she desperately tried to flag down passing vehicles.

As she crossed at the traffic lights, Adam sprinted towards her, seized her, and hauled her back across the street while she screamed.

Stunned bus passengers who witnessed the ordeal intervened, forcing Adam to flee. One witness pursued him while filming on her mobile phone.

He then targeted another woman, attempting to follow her, before approaching a female witness to the initial attack - only for members of the public to step in again.

The victim's mother reported the incident that evening, leading to Adam's arrest.

Adam, of Stanier Street, Swindon, repeatedly refused to engage with police and courts, delaying proceedings through at least eight hearings and refusing to attend court.

He eventually pleaded guilty to attempted kidnap in October and was remanded in custody.

At Swindon Crown Court on December 12, His Honour Judge Jason Taylor KC sentenced him to four years and one month in custody, plus an extended licence of two years and 11 months for public protection.

The judge said Adam posed a "significant risk of serious harm to the public", particularly females, adding: "I cannot say what your ultimate intentions were, but that unknown is what makes this so sinister."

Adam arrived illegally in September 2023, piloting a small boat across the Channel. He was convicted of arriving without valid entry clearance and served seven months before release.

In a powerful victim personal statement read in court, the teenager said: "I remember how I was before this happened... I felt confident... I never would have believed this had happened to me."

She added: "I hope you get locked up because... if you were out in the world, I wouldn't feel safe and I'd worry you'd do this again to another young girl... The world has too many people like you... Young girls, women... will be just that little bit safer with you away."

Detective Constable Anna McCormack, of Swindon CID, praised the victim's bravery and the interveners, noting Adam's "predatory behaviour towards a number of women".

She said the case underscored Wiltshire Police's focus on Project Vigilant - intelligence-led patrols to spot and challenge "red flag" behaviour in hotspots.

The judge awarded High Sheriff Awards to two members of the public who helped stop the attack.

Adam showed no emotion via video link from prison during the hearing.