Failed Asylum Seeker Receives Eight-Year Sentence for York Nightclub Rape
A 21-year-old illegal migrant has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the rape of a woman during a night out in York, after pleading with the court not to deport him back to his native Egypt. Eid Anwar Fathi Najjar, described by the prosecution as a "sexual predator", targeted his victim after she became separated from her friends while drinking in the city centre.
Attack in Historic Shambles Market
The court heard that Najjar, who had crossed the English Channel on a small boat as a failed asylum seeker with "no right to remain" in the UK, encountered the woman at the Vudu Lounge nightclub in the early hours of a morning last July. The victim was described by witnesses as being "in a zombie-like state" due to extreme intoxication.
Prosecutor Claire Holmes detailed how Najjar had been at the venue for only nine minutes before he "whisked her outside", despite a bouncer warning him to stay away and threatening to call the police. CCTV footage showed Najjar "kissing and holding her back" outside the club before marching her away.
Disturbing Sequence of Events
The sequence of events unfolded as follows:
- Najjar sexually assaulted the woman in the street shortly after leaving the nightclub.
- He then "lured" her to the famous open-air Shambles Market where he raped her.
- Najjar returned to the venue where his friends were "angry" with him before being ejected by doormen.
- The victim was later found wandering half-naked through the historic streets by two foreign tourists.
The tourists attempted to help her enter her property before flagging down a passing police car. The woman had "no recollection" of the attack, but medical tests the following day confirmed what had occurred.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Najjar initially denied both rape and sexual assault charges, changing his plea to guilty just days before his trial was due to begin last November. Defence barrister Harry Crowson told the court that his client, who had no previous convictions, was "terrified of being deported" and had stated: "I deserve punishment in this country, but please don't send me back."
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Najjar during sentencing that "no man could reasonably believe she was capable of consenting" given the victim's state of intoxication. The judge imposed an eight-year prison sentence, with Najjar required to serve two-thirds behind bars before being released on licence.
Impact on the Victim
In a victim impact statement read to York Crown Court, the woman described how the attack had left her feeling "overwhelmed and very emotional." She explained that she now experiences increased anxiety in public spaces and no longer enjoys going to pubs with friends. The victim also suffers from "frequent nightmares" as a result of the traumatic experience.
Following his release from prison, Najjar will be considered for deportation proceedings. The case has highlighted concerns about failed asylum seekers committing serious crimes while in the UK, with the defendant having initially provided police with a false name and date of birth when first linked to the rape.
