Aftab Ahmed

A predatory rapist, Aftab Ahmed, has been sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in prison for a brutal attack on a teenage girl in Newcastle. The incident occurred on the evening of 28 March in Nun's Moor Park, where Ahmed, aged 31, targeted a 17-year-old victim who was walking home alone.

According to details presented at Newcastle Crown Court, Ahmed dragged the girl into bushes and carried out a sustained rape. The victim managed to escape after the assault and promptly called the police. Detectives from Northumbria Police launched an immediate investigation, identifying Ahmed as the prime suspect based on a description of the clothing he wore during the attack. He was arrested just three days later at his home in Fenham, less than a mile from the crime scene.

Upon searching Ahmed's residence on Wingrove Gardens, officers seized electronic devices that revealed disturbing evidence of his intentions. In the days leading up to the attack, Ahmed had conducted internet searches for the words 'rape' and 'abduct', indicating premeditated planning. He was charged with two counts of rape and pleaded guilty during a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Shelley Hudson of Northumbria Police's Safeguarding Department described Ahmed as a 'dangerous offender' who had clearly spent time planning the assault. 'He has carried out some disturbing searches on the internet before going to the park that night with the intention of carrying out a sexual assault,' she stated. 'What followed is truly horrific and no person should have to go through what that teenage girl was made to go through.'

The court heard a victim impact statement from the 17-year-old, read out during the sentencing. She expressed the profound trauma inflicted upon her: 'When I was lying in bed I would be constantly thinking about what had happened and I knew that when I woke up that would be the first thing on my mind. I am sick of having this going through my mind, I don’t know when these thoughts will go away. I’m so worried that I’m going to be re-living this incident for the rest of my life.' She added that she felt she had lost her independence and longed for life to return to normal before the attack.

DCI Hudson praised the victim's 'immense bravery and courage' throughout the case, noting that her evidence was crucial in securing Ahmed's conviction. 'Hopefully now she can start to re-build her life but she will have the support of specialist police officers for as long as she needs,' Hudson said. The sentencing reflects the severity of the violent and sustained sexual offence, ensuring Ahmed is removed from society for a significant period.