Locations
Gordon Street, Abbey Hey, DL15
Description
A brave survivor has spoken of the impact the night she was raped has had on her life as her rapist is handed an eight-year jail sentence.
In a victim impact statement read in court, the survivor said:
"I will never forget the fear that I felt when this man took me to his house. I had no idea who he was. I had no idea where I was. I genuinely questioned if I would leave this place with my life.
"There were so many thoughts running through my mind when I arrived at his house however, this man tried to reassure me and tell me that I was going to be safe and my boyfriend was coming. This was all a sick lie.
"I don’t remember much of what happened in the room. I don’t want to remember. I do, however, remember how I felt. I remember not being able to move my body because I was so frozen with fear. I remember thinking “I am going to die”. I was thinking about my Children and how they would be able to live without a Mum. I just wanted it all to be over.
"The next thing I remember is the police entering the room and I have never felt relief like it. I knew I was going to live. This was not the end of what happened to me. I feel like this was only the beginning."
In the early hours of 22 December 2025, the survivor walked through Piccadilly Gardens on her way to get a taxi home after a night out with a friend, while on the phone to her boyfriend.
She realised she was being followed by two men and told her boyfriend; one of the men was Mohammed Al Masri.
Al Masri approached the survivor and began to compliment her and wouldn't leave her alone. As she became upset, he falsely tried to provide her with some sense of compassion and offered to help her get a taxi home.
The two men got in the taxi with her, and feeling unsafe, the survivor shared her location with her boyfriend who notified the police.
Al Masri did not take her home; instead, he took her into his home in Abbey Hey, Manchester, where he raped her. Officers quickly arrived at the address and arrested him at the scene. The survivor was supported by specialist officers and an investigation commenced. Al Masri was found guilty following a trial in June 2026.
On Friday 7 August 2026 at Minshull St Crown Court, Mohammed Al Masri (12/04/2001) of Gordon Street, Abbey Hey, was sentenced to eight years in prison after he was found guilty of rape. He was given a restraining order and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
The survivor continued:
"After it all happened, I felt like I was a zombie. I could not speak to anybody. I was numb. I was emotionless. I felt nothing. I couldn’t interact with my children and felt like I was unable to be a real mum.
"I couldn’t leave the house. I was terrified. I did not trust anybody and couldn’t interact with anybody. I feel like I put myself in self-isolation. I was trying to process what happened but all I could think about was what this man has done to me.
"I could not even rest in my own home due to the constant unsettling feeling of fear and anxiety running through me. It was constant.
"People ask me if I’m okay and I say yes. In reality, I’m not. I am the one who has to deal with this and try and move on. I will never be able to forget what this man did to me. This man has changed me. When I met up with my friend on 21st December, I was a different person then, to who I am now.”
"I will never be that person again because of what this man has done," she added.
Detective Constable Oliver Smith said:
"I'd like to thank the brave survivor for her courage and support throughout the process of this investigation.
"I hope the sentencing of this vile sexual predator offers her a sense of solace while she looks to move on and rebuild her life.
"I urge anyone who might have experienced rape or sexual assault to please come forward and report it. You will always be listened to and supported."