Hasan Alkhabbaz, 22, admitted six counts of sexual assault

A Syrian refugee who launched a series of sex attacks a month after he was granted asylum claims he was suffering PTSD because of the conflict in his homeland, a court heard.

Hasan Alkhabbaz, 22, targeted six victims as they made their way through the Joe Strummer Subway in Paddington, central London, between November 14 last year and March 3.

He lurked in the underpass and two others close by, and grabbed lone women by the bottom and slipped his hand up their skirts.

Alkhabbaz was handed a suspended sentence in May for a similar offence committed on March 5, while investigations into the earlier spree were ongoing.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport on September 8 trying to board a flight to Egypt and on to Sudan.

In his possession was a Syrian passport issued just six days after his travel ban.

Alkhabbaz admitted six counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court last month but psychiatric reports have been ordered following claims he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

His barrister Kenneth Newman told the court: 'Mr Alkhabbaz and his family arrived in the UK in October last year fleeing the conflict in Syria. They were fast-tracked into the UK.

'Mr Alkhabbaz lost a sister in Syria due to bombing and I am told by Mr Alkhabbaz's father they were under siege for a number of months.'

The ordeal led to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder in both father and son, said Mr Newman.

Alkhabbaz, from Islington in north London, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on November 8 at Southwark Crown Court

The judge, Mr Recorder Edward Connell told Alkhabbaz: 'As you know, your solicitors have been trying to arrange for you to be seen by a psychiatrist in prison and until now they have been unable to secure your appointment.

'But I understand that there is now an appointment arranged and that will allow for a report to be prepared.

'So, what I am going to do is adjourn sentence until November 8.

'By adjourning for the obtaining of this report, that is no promise as to what is going to happen to you.

'You have pleaded guilty to a series of offences, each of which crosses the custody threshold and the most likely sentence you are going to receive is a custodial sentence.

'Bu that will be for the judge on that occasion to decide once they know a bit more about you from the report.'

The where Joe Strummer Subway is famous for being the spot where The Clash's frontman used to busk.

Alkhabbaz, from Islington in north London, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on November 8.