UK Court Jails Two Afghan Asylum Seekers for Rape of 15‑Year‑Old Girl
The Crown Court sitting in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, has sentenced two Afghan asylum seekers, Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both aged 17, to youth detention for the rape of a 15‑year‑old girl in a public park.
According to the prosecution, the defendants, who arrived in the UK as unaccompanied minors and were housed in state‑funded accommodation, forcibly led the victim into a secluded area despite her cries for help. The assault was partially recorded on the victim’s mobile phone.
In delivering judgment, the court imposed custodial terms of 10 years and 8 months on Jahanzeb and 9 years and 10 months on Niazal. Reporting restrictions were lifted after defence counsel unsuccessfully argued that identifying the defendants could trigger public disorder and requested that their Afghan origin not be disclosed.
The court further noted that Jahanzeb will be subject to automatic deportation upon completion of his sentence, while Niazal, who entered a guilty plea shortly before his 17th birthday, cannot be automatically deported and remains subject to the outcome of his asylum application.
In her victim impact statement, the complainant told the court that the attack had “robbed her of her childhood,” leaving her anxious and physically unwell.
Presiding Judge de Bertodano observed that although the defendants came from a different cultural background, they “knew perfectly well” that their conduct amounted to a criminal offence.
