A man has been found guilty of raping a student after luring her to his home in Leeds. Uvesh Vahora, 36, denied assaulting the woman on 9 April, telling the court he had come across her in the street and later brought her back to his home in the Hyde Park area after offering her access to a bathroom.
Trial heard woman had no memory of meeting
A trial at Leeds Crown Court heard the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had taken ketamine and had no memory of how she had met Vahora, telling jurors she had been "intoxicated" and "disoriented".
At an earlier hearing, Vahora was remanded in custody and informed that he would be sentenced on November 11. During the trial, jurors were played a recording of a police interview conducted the day after the alleged attack.
Basement attack and four-word plea
In the recording, the woman said she had been taken to a "messy" property, where Vahora allegedly led her to the basement, confiscated her phone and raped her. While talking about the moment in the basement, she said: "I just remember I thought I'd be killed. I didn't know what was going on."
In a four-word plea, the student said "please, don't hurt me" while she was attacked, as well as asking for her phone back.
Defendant claimed sexual activity was consensual
When questioned by police, Vahora said he had come across the woman while she was having difficulty opening her front door and that she told him she needed to use a toilet. He told officers that she agreed to accompany him to his home, where she used the bathroom before kissing him and initiating what he described as consensual sexual activity. According to his account, he later escorted her back home and the pair exchanged phone numbers.
The woman, however, denied consenting to any sexual activity, telling investigators she was in a "vegetative state" after taking ketamine and was incapable of giving consent.
Police: victim was in genuine fear for her life
West Yorkshire Police said Vahora had subjected the victim to a "terrifying experience with her being in genuine fear for her life".
Det Insp Tom Crosfill said: "After disclosing the offence to friends, she contacted police with officers arresting Vahora within around five hours of this offence taking place. He has been held on remand since that time."
He added: "I understand how incredibly difficult it can be to report rape and other sexual offences and I really hope that this conviction demonstrates how seriously an offence of this nature is treated from the outset."
Det Insp Crosfill also said: "Our message to victims is that you will be listened to, you will be supported and we will do everything possible to bring perpetrators before the courts."
Vahora remains in custody and is due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on November 11.
