VPD says no jail time for serial groper convicted in 4 sex assaults

Vancouver police say a serial groper has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced after an investigation into a string of sexual assaults that took place almost two years ago.

25-year-old Hussein Al-Shami has been granted a conditional discharge and placed on probation for 30 months.

Police say four women reported being assaulted by a stranger in April 2023 while walking after dark near BC Place and Rogers Arena.

On April 27, 2023, a woman walking near Pender and Abbott Street was approached by a stranger from behind and then groped. Minutes later, a second woman was walking near Georgia and Beatty when she was also groped.

Both called police right away.

Two days later, a woman was groped near Georgia and Beatty Street. The VPD says a fourth woman was sexually assaulted two hours later near Georgia and Hamilton Street.

After an investigation by the VPD’s Sex Crimes unit, Al-Shami was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual assault.