A Saudi Arabian student has been convicted of raping and attempting to rape a heavily intoxicated woman he met at a Portsmouth nightclub, in a case that has highlighted the brutal reality of sexual violence.
Nightclub Meeting Leads to Horrific Attack
Waleed Alharbi, a 26-year-old finance student, met the woman, who is in her 30s, at the Astoria nightclub on the evening of June 28 this year. The pair left together, with Alharbi carrying the woman part of the way back to his student accommodation in Portsmouth.
Prosecutor Mike Mason told Portsmouth Crown Court that once inside the flat, Alharbi pushed the complainant onto a bed, put his hand over her mouth, and tried to remove her clothes. The woman, who had passed out, awoke to find herself being raped.
Further Assault in the Shower
The court heard that the victim managed to get to the bathroom, telling Alharbi 'Do not come in' and 'I want to go home'. Ignoring her pleas, Alharbi followed her, pushed her down in the shower area, and turned the water on before attempting to rape her again.
Mr Mason described the victim as 'crying and screaming' during this second assault. She believed she banged her head and passed out, later waking to find Alharbi raping her on his bed. She repeatedly told him 'No, no, do not do this' as she tried to resist.
Aftermath and Conviction
After the attacks, Alharbi accompanied the woman out of the building, but she was so weak she had to sit down in the lift. He then left on a scooter, abandoning her outside 'sitting on the floor crying'. Crucial DNA evidence, linking sperm found in the victim to the defendant, was presented to the jury.
Alharbi, who told the court he works as an airport maintenance manager in Saudi Arabia while studying, denied the offences, claiming the sexual activity was consensual. The jury found him guilty of both rape and attempted rape.
Following the verdict, Judge Jane Miller KC adjourned the case for sentencing on December 9 and remanded Alharbi in custody. She requested a victim impact statement to understand the psychological harm suffered, noting the complainant's evident distress while giving evidence.
Judge Miller also praised the jury system, stating that juries bring an essential 'objectivity' to such sensitive crown court trials that legal professionals, who deal with cases constantly, cannot replicate.
