A man who raped a young woman after helping her get into the country under a false name was caught after his victim told a helper at an English class what had happened.
And following a trial at Warwick Crown Court, a jury took just an hour-and-a-half to find Sufiyan Abdulrahman guilty of two charges of rape and two of common assault.
Abdulrahman (23) of Francis Street, Coventry, was jailed for 13 years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
Prosecutor Robert Underwood said Abdulrahman had come to this country from Ethiopia a few years ago, and was granted leave to remain for five years.
His victim, who was in her teens, entered the UK at Heathrow airport under a false name earlier this year and was brought to a house in Coventry.
“It seems a plan was hatched whereby she would come to the UK on the basis that living here would give her an education the like of which she would not enjoy back in her home country.
“In order to get a visa, certain documents had to be produced. That false ID for of someone somewhat older than her, someone who was in her 20s.
“She was complicit in obtaining those documents in order for her to get a visa,” said Mr Underwood.
“But once in Coventry, she became the victim on physical abuse, but worse, rape, repeated rape.”
On the day she arrived Abdulrahman, who had been involved in the arrangement to get her into the country, made a demand for sex at the address where she was staying – and beat her when she refused.
“On the second day there is a demand for sex, and she submits because of the beating she had received the day before. Submission is not consent. He raped her.
And Mr Underwood told the jury that Abdulrahman raped and assaulted her on further occasions after that.
But his victim began attending English classes, and while at one of those she told one of the helpers that she had certain issues she wanted to talk about.
She revealed what had happened to her since arriving in Coventry, ‘and was taken to a place of safety away from this man.’
The police were contacted, and when Abdulrahman was arrested the following day he made no answer to the questions that were put to him in interview.
But in a prepared statement he said he believed the young woman was in her mid-20s, and that although they had had sex, it was consensual, and he had ‘never assaulted her or forced her to have sex.’
Abdulrahman repeated his assertions when he gave evidence during the trial, but Mr Underwood commented: “The prosecution say that is nonsense.” And the jury unanimously agreed with that assessment.
