Asylum seeker jailed for raping lone teenager

Sudanese-born Hafedh Abdullah, 31, who was granted asylum in the UK 18 months ago, was jailed for 10 years and faces deportation when he is released.

Judge Jacqueline Davies, sitting at Doncaster Crown Court, said Abdullah was such a danger to women that she made him subject to a five-year extended licence period when he is released.

She told Abdullah: “It was a sustained attack late at night against a vulnerable young woman.”

Abdullah was found guilty of rape by a jury after putting his victim through the ordeal of a trial, and still maintains his innocence.

Sarah Wright, prosecuting, said the victim, who was sexually inexperienced, was walking home in the early hours of April 16 last year after a night at a friend’s house.

As she was passing Abdullah’s bedsit on Beckett Road in Wheatley Park, Doncaster, he pounced.

Ms Wright said: “He followed her for a short time, grabbed her and literally dragged her into his house, frog marching her up the stairs and locking the door.

“His victim initially thought he was trying to steal her bag, she did not appreciate at first what was happening.”

Abdullah then pushed his victim onto the bed and forced her to strip. He raped her three times during a one-hour ordeal.

Ms Wright said: “She said “no” and had tears in her eyes but that only caused him to become rougher with her and he persisted. No condom was used.

“She was compliant out of fear and did not shout out for the same reason.”

Abdullah eventually allowed her to leave about 4.30am but she was too scared to say anything to her mother and only told a friend the next day.

She was encouraged to go to the police but it was only two months later that she felt able to tell officers the full story.

She was able to point out Abdullah’s house to police and a DNA match was made with swabs taken from the victim at the time.

He claimed he had bumped into her and she was keen to come into his house. She was the initiator and “made all the running”.

But Abdullah admitted he did not know the girl’s name, her age and where she lived.

The victim’s friend said she was “shy” and only outgoing with girls not boys.

Ms Wright said the assault had a profound effect on the girl, who is now 20, and she felt so unsafe she has had to leave the area.

“She doesn’t like going out on her own any more and can’t really sleep. She doesn’t want to speak to anybody, particularly men,” she said.

Oliver Thorne, defending, admitted Abdullah had an “inappropriate attitude” to women.

He had been in an on-off relationship with a woman but had recently taken to visiting prostitutes.

He had been granted asylum in the UK after fleeing to a refugee camp. In Sudan he had experienced attacks by Arab militia and seen his father killed.

Judge Davies told Abdullah: “You spotted her, an attractive young woman and embarked on a course of conduct that must have been terrifying for her.

“She was telling you to stop and you ignored that, despite her sobbing, and you became rough with her.

“She was compliant throughout out of sheer fear of what might happen if she did not.”

Despite the “overwhelming” evidence Abdullah still denied the rape and he had “shown no remorse or victim empathy.”

Abdullah was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

After the hearing Detective Constable Kath Coulter said: “The victim is obviously extremely distressed and will no doubt take some considerable time to move on with her life.”