Five years for man in street attack on prostitute

Dramatic court CCTV footage showed the terrified woman struggling on the ground underneath 24-year-old Abrar Khan as he grappled with her.

She managed to break free after a five-minute ordeal and immediately called the police to the side road off Upper Allen Street, Sheffield.

Her attacker was jailed for five years and Judge Michael Murphy told him: “Some men think prostitutes are easy victims because they will not complain.

“Perhaps because of that they are particularly vulnerable people and the courts are here to protect the vulnerable. It was a chilling episode to have to view.

“This may well have been a more serious offence. She thought at one stage you were going to murder her which has added to the trauma she has experienced.”

Khan, of no fixed address, admitted assault with intent to rob after the prosecution did not proceed with an attempted rape charge.

Simon Waley, prosecuting, said the 23-year-old prostitute earlier had sex with Khan for which he paid £20 but was on her way home at 4.30am when Khan chanced upon her.

Khan walked with her and began chatting before offering to trade his mobile telephone for further sex.

He pestered the sex worker until she agreed to go with him and CCTV footage at Sheffield Crown Court showed the couple disappearing behind a skip.

Moments later the couple reappeared and Khan reached for his sock to get some money before suddenly grabbing the woman by the throat.

Khan told police he had drunk three pints and eight or nine shots of vodka and said he could remember nothing of what happened.

The victim said in a statement: “When it happened my life sort of flashed before me.” She is now taking medication for depression.

She added: “When I was getting strangled I thought I was going to die. Getting killed out there would have been terrible, horrible.”

The judge warned Khan: “In the future if there is any matter like this, life imprisonment will be an inevitable sentence.”