Islamuddin Talash, a 43-year-old Afghan who fled the Taliban, has been jailed for six years for raping a vulnerable young man in Leicester's Abbey Park. The incident occurred in October 2023 when Talash, then 40, offered to help the 20-year-old victim, who had learning difficulties and had run away from home, buy a bike.
Attack in Abbey Park
The victim, who was unfamiliar with Leicester, approached strangers in the park asking for help purchasing a bike. After initially speaking to two teenage boys who recognized his vulnerability and kept an eye on him, he encountered Talash. Talash lured the victim to his hotel by promising a free bike and phone charging, then took him to a secluded area where he forced oral sex and raped him without a condom.
Victim's vulnerability and trial
Two teenagers found the victim after the assault and escorted him to a police station to report the crime. Both later testified at trial. Recorder Sacha Ackland noted the victim's conditions significantly impaired his social functioning and ability to recognize danger. The victim reluctantly complied with oral sex to avoid resistance, and explicitly said no to the rape, which Talash ignored.
Sentencing and deportation
Talash, who had no previous convictions but suffered from anxiety, depression, and self-harm, was sentenced to six years. He will serve four years in the UK before automatic deportation to Afghanistan, subject to Home Office approval. The judge also noted Talash knew he had a sexually transmitted infection during the rape, requiring the victim to undergo preventative treatment. Talash was placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Recorder Ackland commended the two teenage helpers, awarding each £250 from public funds, stating: "They showed strength of character and played an important part in ensuring justice was done. I commend them both."
