Mohammad Tawfiqi

In 2024, at a social gathering held at a friend's house in Stratford, Warwickshire, a 17-year-old girl was using the bathroom when 22-year-old Mohammad Tawfiqi, an Iranian national residing in the area, forced his way into the room. He locked the door and subjected her to a brutal rape, an incident that shocked the local community and prompted a swift police response.

Following the attack, Tawfiqi fled the scene, providing a false name—Papino—to those present at the gathering. Warwickshire Police issued a public appeal to trace the suspect, which was answered by a member of the public from Hereford who identified him as Mohammad Tawfiqi. Officers arrested him at his place of work shortly thereafter. During the arrest, Tawfiqi attempted to deceive the police by giving a false name and, in his interview, submitted a pre-prepared statement denying any involvement in the crime.

Despite his denials, the bravery of the victim enabled Warwickshire Police to build a robust case against him. The investigation was led by Detective Constable Ella Stewart, who praised the victim's courage in coming forward. On 19 March 2026, at Warwick Crown Court, Tawfiqi was found guilty of rape after a thorough trial. The court heard evidence detailing the forcible entry, the locked door, and the assault itself, underscoring the severity of the offence.

Sentencing occurred on the same day, with Judge [name not specified in source] imposing a ten-year custodial sentence on Tawfiqi. Detective Constable Ella Stewart commented on the case, stating: 'The victim has shown incredible bravery throughout this process and I want to publicly thank her for all she has done. Tawfiqi has shown no remorse for his appalling attack and, though no sentence will take away what happened, we are glad he is off the streets.' This outcome, as reported by Warwickshire Police in their official news release dated 26 March 2026, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of such violent sexual offences.

The case highlights the effectiveness of community involvement in aiding police investigations, as the identification from Hereford proved pivotal. Tawfiqi, who had been living in Stratford at the time of the incident, now faces a significant period of incarceration, ensuring he is removed from society for a decade.