Latest Offenders

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A "monster" who raped two women he targeted through dating apps has been jailed for 12 years and seven months.

Daniel Holland, 39, was on police bail for raping a woman in southern England when he launched a similar attack on another woman on Wearside, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Holland admitted two counts of rape and wounding the first woman, having broken her ribs in an assault.

He was also jailed concurrently for a year for sending sexually explicit messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but was actually an online child abuse hunting group.

Holland, who worked as a Royal Navy harbour pilot for more than 20 years, was living in the Bournemouth area when he contacted the profile of a girl on Facebook and told her she looked "stunning", prosecutor Daniel Cordey said.

Despite being told the girl was 13, messages quickly became sexual, with Holland describing in graphic detail acts he wanted to perform with her and telling her he bet she "looked good in her school uniform".

'Targeted for vulnerability'

The profile was actually run by the Online Child Safety Team who reported him to police, with Holland telling officers it was "drunken flirtation" and he did not know the girl's age.

He was eventually found guilty of that offence at Bournemouth Crown Court, the court heard, but before that case concluded Holland raped a woman he met on Plenty of Fish and broke her ribs in an attack.

He was charged with rape and released on bail, moving to the Newcastle area, the court heard.

A day after arriving in the North East, Holland "very quickly" targeted a second victim on Tinder because of her "perceived vulnerability," Mr Cordey said, and within a week had raped her.

He had initially denied both rapes but changed his pleas for the first woman on the second day of his trial and for the second woman shortly before a jury was sworn in.

'Unswerving selfishness'

In a statement read to the court, the first woman said Holland was a "monster" who left her in "so much pain".

She said she now needed counselling and antidepressants.

The second woman said she was a "totally different person" because of Holland, adding she suffered flashbacks and felt "angry and frustrated".

In mitigation, Susannah Proctor said Holland had lost his job in the Merchant Navy because of the child sex case and was drinking heavily at the time of the rapes.

She said he was "deeply shocked by his conduct" and apologised to his victims.

Judge Edward Bindloss said the women were "taken in" by Holland on the dating apps but had their trust "shattered".

He said Holland posed a "high risk of harm" to women and children, and showed a "complete disregard" for his victims and had an "unswerving commitment to [his] own selfish needs".

Having been deemed "dangerous" by the judge, Holland must also serve an extra five years on extended licence upon his eventual release from prison.

Holland, of no fixed abode, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting children online and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Restraining orders stopping him from contacting his victims were also made to last for 15 years.

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A “spiritual” Fife tearoom boss convicted of sexually assaulting six women at his Leven cafes has been re-sentenced.

Alistair Burns targeted his victims at the Trudor Tearoom or Daunder In – doors apart in Forth Street – during a period spanning January 2019 to October 2023.

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A police officer who raped a woman he met on a dating website has been jailed for eight years.

PC Stuart Mines, 49, was off-duty when the attack took place at his home in Devon in October 2022.

Following his conviction by a jury following a trial at Exeter Crown Court he was sacked by Devon and Cornwall Police after more than 20 years’ service.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had suffered severe mental trauma following the rape and had been unable to work as a result.

“Emotionally, I’ve been a total wreck. I’ve spent endless nights unable to sleep, feeling worthless and violated by the actions of this horrid person,” she told the court.

“Mines has ripped my confidence away. Every time I hear a police siren, see a police car or a police officer, it has triggered panic and nausea, and has been and still is a constant reminder of what he has done.

“He completely destroyed my faith in men and the police force.

“How can someone in a position of trust who as a police officer, who should have integrity, respect, empathy, courage, fairness and accountability, do what he did as a police officer?

“As a man, he should have been trustworthy, law-abiding and morally respectful to women. He was none of these.

“I trusted him because he was a police officer, but he broke the law, he raped, lied and treated me with such disdain, being abusive and humiliating me whilst he laughed and thought it was funny, laughing at my distress.”

Kelly Scrivener, defending, said Mines had found being remanded into prison a difficult experience because of his policing career.

“The media coverage of the trial verdict meant that that the people he was placed alongside on that wing realised he was a police officer, now a former police officer,” she said.

“That identification has led to extra problems that have been managed successfully by the prison but continue to have to be managed because of threats and comments.”

Jailing Mines for eight years, Judge Stephen Climie said he had “torn apart” his victim’s life and said the attack had caused her significant harm.

“I have considered very carefully the extent to which the offence of rape was the primary trigger for many of the issues which are detailed in her victim personal statement,” he said.

“In my judgment, having watched and listened to her, I am satisfied that the impact of this event can be described as severe, some might go so far as to say even extreme.”

The judge said the offence was aggravated by the fact Mines was a serving police officer at the time.

“It is aggravated to an extent by virtue of the fact that you as a serving police officer at that time could and should have been somebody who, and I quote your victim, were capable of being described as somebody with integrity, respect, empathy, courage, fairness and accountability,” he said.

“In respect of accountability, you are now being held to account.

“In respect of other matters, I make it clear that, as with any walk in life, there may well be a bad apple or two within any given profession who as a result of their behaviour, attach a degree of blame to others within that role.

“Your conviction should not, in my judgment, in any way, shape or form, impact upon the integrity of the police generally, least of all, the Devon [and] Cornwall Constabulary, who do operate appropriately with integrity, respect, empathy, courage and fairness.”

The judge also placed Mines on the sex offenders’ register for life and imposed an indefinite restraining order not to contact his victim.

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A sex offender guilty of child abuse in Dundee was placed on a community payback order for three years.

A judge told Brandon Harrington, 26, at the High Court in Edinburgh she was satisfied that there was an alternative to a custodial disposal in his case.

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for sexual offences in Berkshire.

John-Paul Walker, aged 44, of g has been sentenced to nine years in prison, with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order put in place.

Following an eight day trial at Reading Crown Court, a unanimous jury found Walker guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.

The offences happened in Berkshire in 2018, when the victim, a girl, was in her teens.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kelly Ware said: “Thames Valley Police will always investigate sexual offences, no matter when they took place.

“These offences occurred in 2018 and were reported to us in 2022. Walker was arrested the same year and following an investigation was charged in 2023.

“I’m pleased that the jury believed the weight of evidence against Walker and found him guilty of the offences, which he has now been jailed for nine years.

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A sex offender who raped a teenage boy in a Nottingham park has been jailed.

The victim, then aged 17, had gone for a walk through the Forest Recreation Ground on 18 July 2024 around 11.30pm.

He encountered a man, now known to be Mohammed Darweesh, who he believed was drunk and who began to pester him.

The victim tried to move away from 24-year-old Darweesh but he kept blocking his path.

He believed Darweesh was armed with a knife and agreed to follow him away from the path where the sexual assault took place.

Darweesh fled from the scene on foot with the teenager’s watch and a £10 note.

A passer-by pursued Darweesh in his van and the attacker dropped the watch on the floor.

Darweesh was later struck by a car in Mapperley Road around 4am the following day after members of the public saw him lying in the road.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Darweesh was identified as a suspect by detectives following forensic and other inquiries and was arrested when he was released from Queen’s Medical Centre.

Darweesh, of no fixed abode, was handed an extended jail sentence of nine-and-a-half years when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (1 April).

Upon release he will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect vulnerable people.

He had pleaded guilty to rape and attempted rape.

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A married man who sexually assaulted three victims at a hotel spa has walked free from court.

Dad-of-two Zia Khan targeted a teenager and two women while they were in a jacuzzi and pool area.

The 'arrogant' 48-year-old later lied and claimed that his victims had fabricated the allegations against him.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how how Khan touched the victims inappropriately while they used spa facilities at the Village Hotel, in Attenborough.

The sex attacks took place in April and May 2023, prosecutor Anthony Cheung said.

The first sex assault involved a teenage girl who was in the jacuzzi at the hotel.

He sat next to her in the jacuzzi before inappropriately touching her, NottinghamshireLive reports.

Mr Cheung said: "At first, (she) thought it was an accident. But it then happened again.

"She was too scared to say anything. She looked to one of her friends for help.

"Upon seeing this, the defendant got out of the jacuzzi and walked away."

In the second attack, one woman was getting into the water when she saw Khan walking towards her.

Khan inappropriately touched her as he walked past her.

The prosecutor added: "Later that night, at around 8.30pm, the third victim was in the jacuzzi with her friend and the defendant.

"The defendant had started to submerge himself under the water."

"Once submerged, the victim felt a foot touch her foot.

"She immediately moved away as she thought it was an accident. But this occurred again."

Mr Cheung said Khan went on to inappropriately touch the woman.

The incident was reported to staff, with Khan arrested two days later.

After his sex attacks, the victims told police the perpetrator was wearing yellow swimming shorts.

These were seized from Khan's home in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, when he was arrested.

Laura Hocknell, defending, said: "He is not devoid of any insight, he has said how sorry he is and he shows a degree of victim empathy.

"He’s had to take a long, hard look at himself.

"It has been humiliating for him but the other side of him is that he’s worked all of his life and is the father to two children."

Judge Michael Auty KC said Khan came across as 'arrogant' during his trial when he told jurors how his victims had made up their claims.

But he went on to say that Khan's conviction and public outing in the media has made him a 'different man' who feels humiliated by his actions.

Judge Auty said: "No man worthy of the name ever sexually assaults a woman, end of. It is despicable behaviour which was degrading and humiliating for them.

"You might say it is nothing more than a bit of fun for you but this can have the most profound and long-lasting effect on wholly innocent women.

"They did not deserve what you did to them and you denied the offences saying they had all made it up.

"Imagine for just one moment what your reaction would be if someone would have done that to your beloved wife or your beloved daughter.

"You would be furious and rightly so.

"I make it plain that the women who came forward were extraordinarily brave and none of them did anything wrong.

"Sending you to prison would send out a powerful message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated [and] during the trial you came across as rather arrogant but you are a different man today.

"Inevitable humiliation has come your way, finding yourself in the press and what that has done to you in your community.

"There’s a large part of me that wants to send you to custody but that would not compensate those victims and there would be no input and intervention from the probation service and you might well go out and do this again."

Khan, of Rivergreen Crescent, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, for three counts of sexual assault.

He was made subject to a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work .

The sex offender must pay £1,000 compensation to two of the victims and £750 to the third.

Khan was also handed a 10-year restraining order banning him from going to the Village Hotel complex and he must remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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A convicted sex offender claimed he got a ‘bad email’ when he was caught looking at pornography on a library computer.

Keith Smith, 72, had an iPhone plugged into the computer when he was confronted by someone who saw him viewing images of semi-naked women.

He was sat next to a young girl at the time, Manchester Crown Court heard. After being confronted, he claimed he had ‘received a bad email’. He was later identified through library records and police asked him to produce the phone for analysis. Smith refused.

“He said he had borrowed his friend’s phone to take pictures of the gas and electric meters,” prosecutor Olivia Gatfield said.

Smith, from Levenshulme, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2011 after he was caught with indecent images of children. One of the conditions stated he must show his internet history on request by the police.

His barrister, Naomi Duckworth said he didn’t own a smartphone, so used a friend’s. He was concerned police would go to his friend ‘gun’s blazing’ so refused to provide their details, she added.

Smith’s behaviour showed ‘poor judgement’, but no charges were brought against him - only for breaching the SHPO - Ms Duckworth added.

Handing him a suspended jail term, Judge Hilary Manley said: “The reason you came to the attention of the police is because you were in a library accessing pornography whilst sitting near a little girl.

“The excuse you gave for not handing over the phone to the police, I find, is not believable. Breaches like this are taken very seriously by the courts.”

Ms Gatfield earlier told the court that on October 28, 2023, a woman was at the Arcadia Library in Levenshulme using a computer, when her attention was drawn to Smith’s screen. On the screen was a woman with her breasts concealed by a plant, she said.

“The defendant was seen scrolling over several photos which were clearly of a sexual nature," the prosecutor said. "He was sitting next to a girl."

The woman confronted Smith. He denied the images were explicit and left. When he was later arrested and interviewed he told officers that while taking pictures of his gas and electric meters he got a ‘sudden urge’ to search for an adult film star.

The court heard he had three convictions for 21 offences, the majority of which were for sex offences.

Defence counsel Ms Duckworth said her client suffered with anxiety and depression. “The defendant explained he did not give the police details of where he got the phone from as he was concerned the police would go in ‘gun’s blazing’,” she added.

A presentence report prepared by the probation service found he had not been open about his behaviour and sought to ‘make excuses’.

Smith, of Stanhope Street, Levenshulme, was handed an eight month jail term suspended for 18 months. He must complete an accredited programme, 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and pay £150 court costs.

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A man from Bradford has been jailed for a number of child sexual offences.  

Richard Barker, 56, of Keighley Road was charged with six counts of possession of indecent images of a child, three counts of engage in sexual communications with a child and two counts of cause or incite a child aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.

He appeared at Bradford Crown Court on 9 June 2023 where he pleaded guilty to all 11 offences.  

The charges relate to incidents he committed through playing online games with two children. He then engaged in sexual communication with them and encouraged them to send indecent images of themselves.  

After he pleaded guilty to those 11 offences, sentencing was adjourned as further disclosures were made.  

Barker was then arrested and charged in July 2024 with two counts of sexual assault and four counts of rape.  

He pleaded not guilty and went on trial at Bradford Crown Court on 4 November.  

He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape and cleared of the other offences.  

Today (31 March) at Bradford Crown Court, Barker was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison as well as a four-year extended license period.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Donna Stokes of Bradford Safeguarding Team said:  

“Barker is a predatory man who purposely targeted the most vulnerable children in society to satisfy his own sexual gratification.  

“This has been a lengthy investigation over a number of years with delays due to Covid.  

“I would like to praise the bravery and courage of the victims in reporting the abuse they endured. I hope today’s sentence can give them some comfort in knowing Barker will be behind bars for a long time.  

“Bradford Safeguarding team treats all reports of sexual offences with the upmost care and sensitivity. We take all reports and investigate them thoroughly.” 

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A “depraved” sexual predator who raped a woman and secretly filmed others in his Peterborough home has been jailed.

Craig France, 33, targeted young women at nightclubs and plied them with alcohol before taking them to his property where he had set up hidden cameras.

France recorded himself carrying out sexual acts on some of his victims while they were unconscious or sleeping.

He was arrested in September last year and initially denied the crimes, but pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism and exposure at a hearing last month.

During the investigation, police identified four victims, but it’s believed there could be more.

France’s offending came to light in August last year after a woman reported he had raped her two years previous, and she was now aware he had filmed it.

The victim had been given a shot of “Sambuca” by France while they were in his garden and the next thing she knew, she woke up in his bed with no recollection of what had happened, but knew something untoward had taken place.

Officers trawled through more than 6,000 disturbing images and videos of several unidentified women, who were secretly filmed at his home between March 2022 and September 2023.

They also found the video which showed the victim being raped by France, while she appeared to be “lifeless”.

It showed France carrying the victim, who was unable to stand, before dropping her in a hot tub and then dragging her on a concrete floor.

A further three victims were identified from the videos and images, who were distraught to learn they had unknowingly been filmed, with one saying she felt France had “taken her dignity” and another saying she felt “disgusted”.

On one occasion, France can be seen sexually assaulting a victim as she lay asleep on his sofa and, on another, he filmed an unsuspecting woman’s body in a sexual manner, close-up.

Officers also found a clip where France was seen naked in daylight at a roadside in the Broxbourne area of Hertfordshire. 

Today (Monday, 31 March), at Cambridge Crown Court, France, of Hammonds Drive, Fengate, Peterborough, was sentenced to 10 years and seven months years in prison. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). 

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A St Andrews paedophile who shared sick child abuse clips with other perverts was thwarted by a police dog when he tried to hide his phone in his grandfather’s bedroom.

Convicted sex offender Arron Kyle was brought from HMP Perth to Dundee Sheriff Court to admit taking or making and distributing the material.

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A MAN who admitted sexually assaulting a 'vulnerable' woman alone in her home has been jailed.

Shahzaib Hassan was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years after pleading guilty to attacking the victim in Dalrymple.

The 26-year-old was heard to have been previously 'denied responsibility' to social workers - after he admitted pushing his hands between her body and arms and touching her breasts during the incident on December 21, 2023.

An allegation that he also massaged her shoulders and arms, knowing she did not want this to happen, was deleted from the same charge, in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Sentencing was previously deferred for criminal justice social work reports and a risk assessment for Hassan, of High Croft Avenue, Glasgow.

When he returned to court, Sheriff Shirley Foran said she was "concerned of denials" in background reports, with "comments attributed" that were "completely contradictory" to his plea.

The court heard Hassan was "due to be married in his home country". Sheriff Foran added: "I want him to be in this country."

Sentencing had to be deferred again, with the offender then being abroad on the previous calling.

When he returned to court on March 25, his solicitor said: "He had been dreadfully embarrassed in front of social work and spoke stupidly.

"He is positive he was not factually correct [in denying responsibility].

"He accepts this was an offence he did intentionally and no accident.

"He tells me he would adhere to any non-custodial disposal.

"He is embarrassed by his conduct and expressly asked me to convey his apologies to the court as well as the victim."

Sheriff Foran said: "This woman allowed you entry and you attacked her in her home when alone and vulnerable. I see little remorse.

"I consider this predatory behaviour requires to be marked by a custodial sentence."

He was jailed for 36 weeks, discounted from 40 after his guilty plea.

The sheriff added: "You will now be subject to sex offender notification requirements for 10 years."

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A rapist who preyed on a young woman during a night out has been jailed after he was caught on CCTV thanks to a detective’s perseverance.

In September last year, Gagandeep Gulati found his victim alone in Leicester’s Jubilee Square.

He approached her and coerced her into going to Castle Gardens, where he raped and sexually assaulted her. He videoed the incident on his phone and sent clips to other people.

An investigation led by detectives from Signal – the force’s specialist rape and serious sexual violence investigation team – began.

Over the course of a week, Detective Constable Matt Smith undertook the painstaking process of trying to find the victim on CCTV. Eventually footage was found showing 20-year-old Gulati’s movements but his identity was still unknown.

When DC Smith visited the accommodation where Gulati was staying to carry out further enquiries, he immediately recognised him from the footage arrested him.

DC Smith worked solidly to review this evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service in order to negate any attempt by the defence to use the CCTV and myths and stereotypes to discredit the victim.

In interview, he tried to claim that he had been sexually assaulted by the victim and that she was the one who raped him. However, he was charged with one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, one count of sexual assault and one count of sharing an intimate film.

On Friday (28 March), following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, Gulati – formerly of Peacock Lane, Leicester – was found guilty of all offences and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

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A "depraved" teacher pretended to be a 16-year-old girl online to trick two boys into sending him intimate images of themselves. The boys were left "broken" by Daniel Fuge's "twisted need for control," Mold Crown Court heard.

Fuge, 38, whose parents live in Wrexham, had been working as a primary school teacher in the Middle East. He denied the offences but was convicted by a jury last month. Today [Monday] a judge jailed the "depraved" paedophile for 10 years. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now

He was given a seven year sentence for inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity with penetration, and jailed for a further three years for the same offence without penetration against a second boy. Eric Lamb, prosecuting, told the court Fuge posed as a girl, 16, and encouraged the first boy, 13, to send naked photos of himself.

He then incited the boy to send a video of himself carrying out a sexual act. Police investigated and found someone using the same account had also incited a second boy, 14, to send Fuge naked photos of himself.

Fuge, of Prospect Road, Dorchester, Dorset, was traced as being a primary school teacher working in Saudi Arabia. Fuge's devices, found at his parents' home in Wrexham, contained five indecent images of children in category C.

The court also heard Fuge had been arrested in summer 2022, but later threw himself towards a train in Dorset, after which he was treated for a fractured arm. Today the first victim's father read out a powerful statement to the court.

Addressing Fuge, who was on a video link from HMP Berwyn, he said his son had been "smart, kind and considerate" but fell victim to "feeding (Fuge's) twisted need for control". After Fuge leaked photos on the internet, his son was bullied in school but also intimidated at home - where he should have felt safe - by Fuge's online presence "prowling just out of reach".

The father added: "My wife and I feared our son would commit suicide because of your lurid bearings." But finally the "faceless evil" is over, he said.

"It's your turn to feel ashamed, it's your turn to feel embarrassed, it's your turn to feel fear of what might happen," he said. The mother of the second victim said in a statement, read by the prosecutor, she was worried about her "broken boy".

She was frightened he could take his own life and checked on him every hour. She said she was "so pleased" that both boys "are still here with us". Nevertheless his father felt he had failed to protect his son from the "monster" Fuge.

She added: "You may have stolen their childhood but you won't steal their future." Nicholas Williams, defending, said Fuge had incited the video of the first victim and shared the video with the second victim.

But "someone else" had then taken the second victim's phone, found the video and posted it around the school. The offences had been denied until a jury convicted Fuge, but neither boy had had to give evidence in person, added defence counsel.

Mr Williams admitted it was "worrying" that his client had been a primary school teacher. However there was no link between his crimes and any pupils in the Middle East, he said.

The judge, His Honour Rhys Rowlands, said the "depraved" defendant had deceived both boys. He noted the second boy was told to send more images and threatened in capital letters that images would be shared online if he didn't.

Jailing him he ordered him to sign the sex offender register and be made subject to a sexual harm prevention order both for ten years. There was an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Fuge from contacting his victims and he is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

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A man has been jailed for six years after attacking and sexually assaulting a woman who had been enjoying a night out socialising with friends in Middleton. The victim will also have an indefinite restraining order against her to protect her, and he will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

Dewan Gazi (12/07/1980), of Croxdale Walk, Blackley, had previously been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of section 47 assault at Manchester Crown Court.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday 28 July 2024, the woman was walking home when she was suddenly confronted by Gazi, who grabbed her by the arms and began to touch her over her clothes.

The woman feared for her safety and began to shout for help, as well as punching the offender who continued his attack, including pulling at her shorts.
He then pushed his victim into nearby bushes with a low metal barrier, which she struck and caused her considerable pain.

Around this time, a man and woman in a nearby address heard the commotion and came out to find the man holding his victim on the pavement. After intervening and questioning Gazi, who claimed to be providing help, he ran off and the woman was assisted by the couple.

The man chased Gazi down the street and away from the area, before returning to help.
She was taken to hospital with pain and bruising – as well soreness to her fist where she had punched her attacker.

Following CCTV checks, Gazi’s vehicle was identified as being in the area around the time of the incident, and was later seized by officers as part of their enquiries.

Further CCTV footage showed Gazi working in a takeaway in Middleton, watching his victim walk past, before he ran out to his vehicle and followed her in his car shortly before launching his attack.

He was later arrested and charged with his offences by officers within Rochdale CID.
The man and woman who assisted the victim have since received a bravery award from GMP for their actions, and the judge commended their ‘neighbourhood spirit’ in coming to the victim’s aid and chasing away the attacker.