No jail time for ‘serial groper,’ Vancouver police say

Two photos released by the Vancouver Police Department show a man suspected of groping four women in separate incidents downtown in April 2023.

A man who sexually assaulted four strangers in Vancouver’s downtown core has been given a conditional discharge, police said Thursday.

Investigators identified Hussein Al-Shami as the “serial groper” who attacked four women walking near BC Place and Rogers Arena back in April 2023, and the 25-year-old ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.

The Vancouver Police Department said the judge granted Al-Shami a conditional discharge, meaning he will not have to serve time behind bars if he remains on good behaviour during his 30-month probation period.

Authorities credited tips from the public for leading investigators to Al-Shami. He was arrested one day after police shared suspect images in July 2023.