Leeds predator jailed after raping male victim at knifepoint subjecting him to ‘horrific sexual offences’
A man has been jailed after raping a vulnerable male victim who had fallen asleep in Leeds city centre.
On January 14, a 19-year-old man had been on a night out and fell asleep inside the Queens Arcade in Leeds city centre.
A court heard how CCTV footage showed Abdi Wahab Abdulla, 31 from Leeds, entered the arcade and approached the victim.
After this he searched the victim and put items in his pockets.
The victim woke up at this point, and Abdulla was seen helped him to his feet and walked out with him.
The court heard how Abdulla had gone on to follow the victim over some distance, initially threatening him with a knife and orally raping him near the Merrion Centre before attempting to anally rape him in Woodhouse Moor Park.
It is after the first assault that the victim realised that his phone, keys and credit card were missing from his pocket, the court was told.
The victim then reported the offences to the police later that day.
Abdulla was made a suspect as a result of officers positively identifying him in CCTV images, and he was arrested on February 12, 2023.
He was later also the subject of a forensic DNA hit.
The 31-year-old was found guilty of rape and attempted rape following a four-day trial at Leeds Crown Court.
He previously pleaded guilty to a charge of theft against the same victim.
On Friday (Mar 27) he was sentenced today to seven and a half years imprisonment and will be added to the Sex Offenders Register.
The Judge commended the detectives involved in the investigation.
Detective Constable Jack Powell, of Leeds Safeguarding, said: “The victim was by his own admission, and verified by CCTV footage, heavily intoxicated at the time of these offences, leaving him in an extremely vulnerable state and unable to consent to any sexual activity.
“Abdulla has taken advantage of this, firstly stealing the victim’s property before threatening him at knifepoint and subjecting him to horrific sexual offences.
“The way Abdulla followed him over a considerable period of time demonstrates a predatory nature and shows the danger that he poses.
“These offences have had a huge impact on the victim, and I know no sentence can or will ever make up for the awful ordeal that he has suffered.
“I hope though that he is reassured that Abdulla has been held accountable for what he did and that he feels safer knowing that Abdulla is now in prison.
“The victim received specialist safeguarding support throughout this investigation, and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of any sexual offence to please come forward so that you can also be safeguarded.
“Offences against boys and men in particular are believed to be under-reported. I want to reassure male victims that you are not alone and that there should be no stigma in coming forward.”