Israr Niazal

Israr Niazal, a 17-year-old unaccompanied child asylum seeker from Afghanistan, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court alongside co-defendant Jan Jahanzeb for the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. Niazal had arrived in the UK in November of the previous year, initially accommodated in Kent before being moved to local authority care in the Warwickshire area. The crime unfolded after the victim separated from her friends near Leamington town centre, where Niazal joined Jahanzeb in targeting her.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Shawn Williams detailed the events using video and CCTV evidence. Jahanzeb summoned Niazal in Pashto while with the victim, and together they led her away against her will, ignoring her screams and protests. The footage captured the girl's distress as she was silenced and moved to a secluded, bushy den-type area. There, she was pushed to her knees and raped, with the prosecution confirming Niazal's presence and active participation in the assault, described as 'horrific'.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, sentencing Niazal to nine years and 10 months in youth detention on Monday, highlighted the non-consensual nature of the attack, stating: 'This is a case where it was absolutely clear to both of you that you were taking a child away from her friends in the face of her vigorous protests to somewhere that could not be observed in order to commit this offence. You both knew perfectly well that what you were doing was criminal and wrong.' The judge noted the lifelong impact on the victim, who had made vigorous protests throughout the ordeal.

Reporting restrictions were lifted by the judge, who criticised the defendants for betraying the trust of those seeking sanctuary in Britain. Both were ordered to register as sex offenders and face possible deportation. They had pleaded guilty to rape at Coventry youth court earlier. Niazal's involvement was evidenced by the phone footage and the victim's testimony, underscoring his role in the deliberate and harmful choices that caused profound damage.

Ben Samples from the West Midlands CPS affirmed the robustness of the prosecution, saying: 'The evidence in this case, including recordings and the victim’s own testimony, made clear the defendants’ responsibility for the suffering caused. The CPS is unwavering in its commitment to prosecuting sexual offences robustly and supporting victims at every stage.' Warwickshire Police's Detective Chief Inspector Richard Hobbs commended the victim's courage, noting the ongoing challenges for her and her family following the traumatic incident.