Muhammad Ans, 29, of Tavistock, Devon, has been jailed for 20 years with a further three years on extended licence for a series of rapes against three women. He was convicted after a 14-day trial at Plymouth Crown Court of four counts of rape.
Attacks through dating apps
The court heard that Ans met all three victims on dating apps between 2023 and 2025. He raped the first victim in late 2023 at his accommodation in Coventry, Warwickshire, after they met in person for the first time and had a meal. He went on to rape the same woman again in early 2024.
In August 2024, Ans messaged the first victim again to ask to meet. When she confronted him about the rapes in a series of messages, Ans apologised and offered to take her out shopping and for meals, which she refused. Around a week later, after moving to a flat in Tavistock, Ans met the second victim on a dating app. He collected her in his car, invited her back to his flat, and they drank alcohol. The woman made it clear she was not interested in sex, but Ans raped her. After dropping her home, she challenged him by message, and Ans apologised, stating he could not stop himself. He offered to take her shopping and claimed he wanted to get to know her and go to the beach. The victim refused and said she would report him.
Arrest and further charges
Police were informed that day and launched an investigation. After Ans was identified and his vehicle details established, a wanted appeal was issued. He was found and arrested in Leeds, having fled Tavistock after being challenged by the victim. In interview, Ans denied the offence, claiming all sexual contact was consensual and that the admissions in his messages were confusion on his part. He was bailed with conditions not to contact the victim.
In August 2025, another victim was identified. She told police she met Ans on a dating app and was raped after they went for a drink together. Ans was further arrested, charged, and remanded. Analysis of data from his phone uncovered messages with the first victim, leading police to identify and contact her. She confirmed she had been raped by Ans, and he was charged with those offences.
Sentencing and victim impact
Sentencing Ans at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Matthew Turner said his lack of recognition for his actions was “deeply troubling”. He said the victims originally found Ans charming, but he preyed upon that to rape them and satisfy his own desires.
DC Craig Ferguson, case officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, said Ans’ crimes were “heinous”. After sentencing, he said: “Ans is a sexual predator who targeted these women on dating sites with the sole purpose of meeting up with them for sex. His motivation was clear. These women were looking for meaningful relationships, and were not seeking casual sexual encounters, and they made this clear to Ans. Despite this Ans created situations where they were each caused to be alone with him, and he then proceeded to rape them, and forced them into depraved sexual acts. Ans was driven by his sexual appetite, and the voices of his victims did not matter to him. He chose what was going to happen, and he forced his will onto others. Their clear boundaries and lack of consent did not matter to him.”
In a victim impact statement, the second woman attacked by Ans called him a “rapist monster”. She added: “He is a disgusting human being, and I hate him with every part of me.” The third victim said: “Psychologically, the impact of these events has affected almost every aspect of my life.”
Ans was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a further three years to be served on extended licence. He will also be required to sign the sex offenders register for life.
