Evil East Yorkshire predator who raped women while they slept jailed for nearly seven years

Dariush Behdarvandi-Aidi was sentenced today (Monday) after he was found guilty last month for the rape of two women in April and December 2017.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 33-year-old from Pocklington, East Yorkshire, raped a woman at a house in Knaresborough in December 2017 as she slept following a night out.

The woman woke up and pushed him away, calling the police while he was still in the house.

He was immediately arrested.

In January 2018, news of Behdarvandi-Aidi's arrest prompted another woman to report that her friend had been raped and sexually assaulted by him at a flat in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in the April of that year after a night out.

The survivor had also been asleep at the time and had had no memory of what had happened when she woke.

Behdarvandi-Aidi was sentenced to six years and ten months in jail.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Emma Dawson of Harrogate CID, said: “I am pleased that justice has been delivered for both victims today.

“No prison sentence can make up for the distress and suffering they have endured, but I hope they can both take some comfort from the fact that Behdarvandi-Aidi is now behind bars for his crimes.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, whether it happened recently, or many years ago, please contact police. We have specially trained officers who will listen to you, treat you with sensitivity, and can help bring those responsible to justice.”