An asylum seeker who twice raped a drunk and obviously vulnerable woman in a park has been handed a 14-year extended sentence after a court heard he had displayed no remorse.
Details of the Attack
Pakistan-born Sheraz Malik was convicted of two counts of rape in January after jurors were told how he assaulted the 18-year-old woman moments after she had been raped by another man in Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, last June.
Malik, 28, previously of Bath Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield, insisted he had consensual sex with the woman, but was convicted following three hours of deliberations at Birmingham Crown Court.
Sentencing
Delivering sentence at the same court on Thursday, Judge Simon Ash KC imposed a 10-year jail term extended by an additional four-year period on licence. After hearing that Malik was anticipated to be deported upon his eventual release, the judge told him: There is no evidence of remorse or of you having any insight into the serious harm you have caused to the victim. You appear to feel only hostility and anger towards her.
The court heard Malik, who appeared in the dock wearing a black Nike tracksuit and was aided by a Pashto interpreter, continues to deny any wrongdoing and was shouting and swearing when a probation officer spoke to him to prepare a report in February.
Violence and Degradation
The rapist, who had been smoking cannabis and struck the victim, cutting her lip, was described by the judge as having made humiliating and degrading comments. The judge told Malik: You used violence against her in the course of raping her. When she tried to resist you, you hit her to the face and head.
The probation officer states that when he discussed the offending you continued to deny it and spoke about the victim in a derogatory and abusive manner. The court heard the pre-sentence report highlighted that Malik had distorted thinking regarding consent, personal entitlement and the objectification of women.
Victim Impact
Outlining the report, Nicholas Corsellis KC, prosecuting, said Malik had maintained a strong sense of grievance and resentment towards the woman. In a personal impact statement read before sentencing, the victim, who cannot be named, said she experienced flashbacks of the attack and had found giving evidence in court extremely challenging and distressing.
Part of the statement read: I find myself struggling to cope. I keep having nightmares about the incident and the medical examination after it.
Background and Investigation
Malik, who had resided in Italy, Germany and France before arriving in the UK, remains waiting for the result of an asylum application, having been in Britain for less than 12 months when he assaulted the teenager, the court was told. Nottinghamshire Police continues to carry out enquiries to trace and arrest another suspect allegedly involved in attacking the victim.
Commenting after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Nicole Milner said: Above all, my thoughts are with the victim, whose courage, resilience and bravery have been evident throughout both the investigation and the criminal justice process. Sheraz Malik has today received a significant custodial sentence, reflecting the seriousness of his offending and the profound impact of his actions on the victim. I hope this sentence brings the victim a sense of justice and reassurance that Malik no longer poses a threat to our community.
