Man denies sexual assault on asylum hotel workerThe alleged sexual assault happened at Highfield House Hotel in SouthamptonAn asylum seeker has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a staff member at his hotel. Melaku Gebresembet, 23, is accused of groping a woman at Highfield House Hotel in Southampton on Friday. The Ethiopian national, who was born in Eritrea, has been waiting for five years for his asylum claim to be processed, Southampton magistrates were told. They initially decided to release him on bail to appear at Southampton Crown Court, but remanded him in custody following a prosecution appeal.

Source: Ethiopian News January 22, 2026 04:20 UTC