Ali Askre: Drunken man subjected paramedics to vile sex assaults as they took him to Sheffield hospital

An ambulance was called for Ali Askre, after he was seen lying down outside the Genting Casino in Sheffield city centre, next to a pool of vomit.

The two female paramedics who attended were sexually assaulted by Askre, both as they got him into the ambulance, and on the journey to the city’s Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

They repeatedly told him to stop touching them, with some of the assaults carried out as they used clinical equipment such as blood pressure monitors, but he persisted in the “appalling” conduct.

Askre, aged 24, also made a number of sexually explicit comments to the two women, detailing the acts he wanted to carry out.

Sentencing Askre during a January 12, 2026 hearing, Judge Rachael Harrison told him: “People working in the emergency services are entitled to do their job without fear of people trying to do unpleasant things to them.

“They are entitled to go about their jobs without being sexually assaulted.

“What you did in drink has had a serious effect on your victims.”

In statements to the court, the two paramedics, both of whom are entitled to lifelong anonymity, said they had both entered into the profession to help people, and “do not come to work to be assaulted and touched inappropriately”.

“I was unable to walk away from this male who I was trying to care for, who was sexually assaulting me while I was trying to serve my community,” one of the paramedics said.

She explained that she had to finish her shift in the aftermath of the shocking incident.

“I feel proud to be a paramedic and keep my community safe, and don’t feel I deserve to be treated like this,” she said.

The other paramedic said that in addition to enduring the sexual assaults by Askre, she also found it upsetting to witness him behaving in the same way towards her colleague.

She added: “It was upsetting to hear his comments about sexually assaulting unconscious women, and that he thinks this is acceptable.”

Prosecutor Amy Earnshaw told the court that after Askre was taken to hospital, he went on to racially harass and assault one security guard. He used pejorative terms, threatened to kill him and punched him to the jaw, the court heard.

Askre subsequently went on to assault a second security guard, and he was then restrained.

“Not satisfied having behaved in an appalling way in the ambulance to paramedics who were trying to help you…you committed a racially aggravated harassment and two batteries when you got to hospital,” Judge Harrison said.

Ms Earnshaw told the court that prior to the spate of offences, all of which were committed on March 15, 2025, Askre had a clean criminal record.

Askre, of Torksey Road West, Shiregreen, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault by beating and one count of racially aggravated harassment at an earlier hearing.

Defending, Ian Goldsack told the court that Askre has “limited recollection of what, in fact, took place.”

He continued: “He made the exceptionally unwise decision to buy a bottle of whisky, which he proceeded to drink in short order.”

“He’s frankly shocked and appalled by what he has come to understand he said and did.”

“He regrets, and is apologetic for, it.”

Mr Goldsack referred Judge Harrison to a psychiatric report prepared on Askre’s behalf, and alluded to him struggling with a “difficult family background.”

He said Askre was homeless at the time of the offences, and his father - who was the complainant in an assault allegation made against Askre - has since welcomed him back to the family home.

Askre, continued Mr Goldsack, has “tried everything that he can to try and address the issues that have bedevilled him” in the 10 months since the assaults.

Sentencing Askre, Judge Harrison said that whilst he “thoroughly deserves to go to prison” the longest sentence she would realistically be permitted to pass - after taking his credit for plea into consideration would be one of less than a year.

Bearing that in mind, along with Askre’s “genuine remorse” and mental health issues which would not be addressed in custody, Judge Harrison said she had “just been persuaded” to step away from a custodial sentence.

She sentenced him to a 24-month community order with a number of requirements, including a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 26 alcohol treatment sessions, 100 hours of unpaid work and a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement.

Judge Harrison warned Askre, however: “Breaches [of the order] are reserved to me. If you come back, you will go to prison. It’s your job to keep in touch with the probation service, wherever you’re living.”

“I’m giving you a chance, and if you choose not to take it, you will go to prison.”

Askre was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.