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A RAPE victim was forced to relive the terrifying moment a man subjected her to a brutal sex attack after a court showed “utter contempt” towards her feelings by playing CCTV of the ordeal.
Deeply-disturbing footage showed twisted Mohammed Azim, 31, smash the woman over the head with a bottle at a bus stop before dragging her by the hair into a nearby factory.
Deeply-disturbing footage showed twisted Mohammed Azim, 31, smash the woman over the head with a bottle at a bus stop before dragging her by the hair into a nearby factory.
Azim, who was drunk and high on cocaine in the attack in November last year, denied three charges of rape.
That meant his victim – who cannot be named – was forced to watch the CCTV in front of a packed courtroom and jury so she could be properly cross-examined by defence lawyers.
Azim was jailed for a minimum of 16 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court after being found guilty of all three charges.
Judge Michael Challinor branded him a danger to the public who should only be released if a parole board considers it safe.
He also extended Azim’s period of licence by four years, making the total sentence 20 years.
The judge told him: “You saw an opportunity to attack this vulnerable and defenceless woman. There was significant planning.
“It was a sustained sexual attack and you threatened to kill her. It’s quite clear she thought her life was in danger. In spite of the clear evidence, you continued to maintain your innocence. You are lucky to have escaped a mandatory life sentence.”
Azim, of Oldbury, West Midlands, had convictions for manslaughter and kidnap following the death of a man in a canal.
Last night anti-rape charities said it was “appalling” that the woman had been forced to watch the distressing footage.
Yvonne Traynor, chief executive of Rape Crisis, said: “She had been through enough – to be shown this in court to torture her again displays an appalling lack of consideration. It shows utter contempt for her feelings.”
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling last month announced plans to let rape victims give their evidence before a trial and spare them the ordeal of undergoing cross-examination in court.
