A former Conservative councillor has been jailed for nine years after raping a woman and burning her skin with a red-hot knife during his time in office.
Shawaz Ditta, 31, was elected to Worcester City Council in May 2022. Worcester Crown Court heard he raped his victim, assaulted her several times by throwing metal tongs at her head, and burned a knife on the hob before pressing it against her leg. He denied the charges but was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of assault involving weapons.
Sentence and restrictions
The judge handed Ditta a nine-year jail sentence. He was also given a 10-year restraining order preventing him from contacting or approaching the victim, placed on the sex offenders' register for life, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £288.
His conviction prompted shock from local political leaders. Council leader Lynn Denham said she felt "desperately sorry for the victim" and what Ditta put her through. She added: "I hope she's doing ok and is getting the support she needs."
Political reaction
Marc Bayliss, chairman of Worcestershire Conservative Party and deputy police and crime commissioner, said the offences were "heinous and absolutely unacceptable". He said: "My thoughts are with the victim and I'm delighted that justice has been done."
Lib Dem councillor Sarah Murray said Ditta had betrayed the standards expected of those in public office. She said: "Voters expect their elected representatives to act with integrity, decency and respect for others. This horrific behaviour betrays those expectations, casts a shadow over local public life and damages public trust. No position, reputation or political connection should ever shield an abuser from accountability."
Investigation and police statement
Ditta's survivor reported his offending to police in early 2023, and an investigation was launched by West Mercia Police's Protecting People Unit (PPU). The woman told officers how he had assaulted her several times by throwing metal tongs at her head and by burning a knife on the hob and pressing it against her leg. She reported he had raped her too.
DC Lydia Burrows, of West Mercia Police's PPU South, said: "Ditta is a violent sexual predator who belongs behind bars. His conviction will hopefully give his survivor some closure and the opportunity to move forward with her life now. Ditta was formerly a city councillor, so this result shows that nobody is above the law, regardless of status in society. We would like to commend the survivor for having the courage to come forward and report this to police and hope it will encourage others to do the same. We will always take you seriously and treat you with empathy and respect as we seek to get justice against the perpetrators of such awful offences."
