An asylum seeker knocked a young woman unconscious outside a nightclub just one week after being convicted of attacking a Subway worker.
Abdoela Berhan, 35, punched Cleo Lake, then 20, in the face after she and her friends rejected his advances, knocking her out cold and breaking her nose.
Berhan was found guilty of assault just a week after he was convicted of attacking a Subway worker in another violent incident caught on CCTV which saw him assault the staff member after being asked to leave.
Despite the fact he faces jail time for his violent crimes, the hotel migrant is on the run after he failed to show up for either of his cases.
Poole Magistrates' Court have issued two warrants for the arrest of the Eritrean national.
But police confirmed Berhan, whose address was given as the taxpayer-funded Britannia Hotel migrant hotel, remains at large and 'enquiries are ongoing to locate him'.
The court heard how Berhan approached Miss Lake and two friends after they left Cameo nightclub in Bournemouth during the early hours of December 7, 2024.
He sat next to them, making them feel very uncomfortable, and tried to put his arm around one.
Abdoela Berhan, 35, was found guilty of the assault just one week after being convicted for attacking a Subway worker
Cleo Lake (pictured) was knocked unconscious after rejecting Berhan's advances outside a nightclub
Miss Lake sustained a black eye and a broken nose from the attack, which she says left her frightened to go out
Miss Lake, who was 20 at the time, told Berhan to 'f**k off' and bravely stood up to him when he became aggressive.
Berhan started swearing and getting in Miss Lake's personal space, leading her to push him away.
The asylum seeker responded by punching her in the face, knocking her out cold. He then fled the scene, leaving her unconscious on the floor.
Berhan was later arrested and denied a charge of assault, claiming he acted in self-defence.
The trial went ahead in his absence. Leah Dillon, prosecuting, said: 'The victim and two friends were outside Cameo at about three or 4am.
'They went to get a kebab or something to eat. The defendant started approaching them. There was a bit of verbal exchange. He kicked Cleo Lake, she kicked him back in self defence.
'He pulled his arm back and punched her, knocking her to the floor, before leaving the area. When arrested he said he was acting in self-defence.'
Alissa Cole, who was with Miss Lake, told the court: 'He came over and sat next to me and put his arm around me so I got up. I just thought "I need to get out of this situation".'
Britannia Hotel in Bournemouth, where Berhan was staying, has been dubbed Britain's 'most dangerous asylum hotel' after a string of migrants staying there were convicted for violent crime in recent months
Miss Lake told the court: 'There was a guy who approached us when we were eating our kebabs. He tried to sit down with us, I got uncomfortable because none of us knew who he was, it was dark and there was no-one else around.
'I told him to f**k off and he didn't like it.
'We were arguing, swearing at each other and he got rather close so I shoved him back. He turned around and kicked me, but missed, then I kicked him.'
Berhan then delivered his 'forceful' punch and knocked her to the floor. Miss Lake believes she was unconscious for about five minutes.
Her friends were slightly away from her when it happened. She said at first they thought she was asleep but then realised something was wrong.
Miss Lake was taken to hospital by ambulance but went home after waiting four hours to be seen.
When she later went to the GP about fixing her crooked nose, where she said the doctor told her it had been broken in the assault.
Miss Lake told the court the impact the assault had on her, saying: 'After, I didn't go out for a while. I got quite a bit of bad anxiety around men, I just felt really uncomfortable around them.
Despite the fact he faces jail time for his violent crimes, Berhan (pictured) on the run after he failed to show up for either of his cases
'Even now, a year and a half later, I won't go out clubbing unless there's a lot of us or someone's boyfriend is there, for protection. Because I have the thought that something bad will kick off.'
Miss Cole told the judge nothing like it had ever happened before and that it was frightening.
Judge Orla Austin asked how it had impacted her. She said: 'It was really not nice. We don't go out as much any more. We won't go out unless there's a good amount of people.'
The judge commended both young women for their bravery.
The court heard Berhan told police he didn't do it with any intention of assaulting her and that it was a 'reaction' to being pushed. He said he saw her stumble and he walked off.
Judge Austin said: 'Mr Berhan attempted to kick Miss Lake, then punched her in the face. It was a forceful blow and caused her to lose consciousness.
'Her friends were extremely concerned and an ambulance had to be called. She has suffered significantly physically and psychologically after this incident.
'I am satisfied he did assault Miss Lake, he did inflict unlawful violence and that violence was serious.'
Commenting on Berhan's absence, she said: 'Nothing is known about his whereabouts. There is no good reason for his non-attendance.
'I don't know when he's going to be arrested, but I will reserve sentence to myself and prison is very much in the forefront of my mind.'
Speaking after the case, Miss Lake, who works as a waitress and bartender, said she was happy he had been found guilty but was shocked to hear about his similar offence.
Just last week, Berhan was found guilty in his absence of assaulting the worker of a Subway store in Bournemouth.
After being drunk and obnoxious to staff and customers, he was asked to leave.
He responded by spitting and kicking worker Sahjan Chowdhury before fleeing. He was caught after he returned to the same Subway branch hours later as a Just Eat delivery driver.
Berhan tried to claim that he was the one who was assaulted and accused the staff of being racist. When he was shown CCTV of the incident he said he had acted in self-defence.
The incident happened close to the Britannia Hotel, one of three migrant hotels in the town, on November 30 2024, at about 4.50am.
It has been dubbed as Britain's 'most dangerous asylum hotel' after a string of migrants who have stayed there have been convicted for violent crime in recent months.
Britannia Hotel, where Berhan was staying, is a 123-room, three-star rated accommodation that TripAdvisor reviewers have ranked 68th of 69 such venues across Bournemouth.
In recent months, it has been the scene of angry protests, as concerned locals take to the streets about its continuing use by the Home Office for an estimated 100 asylum seekers - alongside two other nearby migrant hotels.
Last summer, Britannia Hotel was surrounded by residents brandishing signs stating 'Illegal criminals out' and 'Stop the boats'.
Figures released last August showed a total of 91 charges were brought against people staying at the Britannia and Roundhouse - and another 25 against those at the Chine Hotel, amounting to 116 counts against 51 different asylum seekers.