Man who throttled and raped woman in 'life-endangering' street attack jailed for eight years

A man who throttled and raped a woman in a street attack has been jailed for eight years.

A judge told Ali Chikane at the High Court in Edinburgh: “This was a violent, humiliating and thoroughly degrading crime.”

Lord Arthurson said: “I have concluded that you assaulted and raped the complainer in anger and by way of the use of force.”

The judge said Chikane, 35, perpetrated the attack “notwithstanding her clear and vocal protests to you to stop and even as she was crying”.

Lord Arthurson said a background report prepared on him made it clear he took no responsibility for the offence and viewed himself as the victim.

He said: “In the whole circumstances only a significant custodial disposal is appropriate.”

Chikane grabbed the woman by the neck and throttled her as he subjected her to the sexual assault ordeal at a lane in Edinburgh on February 5 last year as he forced himself on her after an argument.

The chef, formerly of Edinburgh, had denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury of assaulting the victim and raping her to the danger of her life.

Chikane grabbed hold of the woman by the neck and pushed her against a wall in Dalry, Edinburgh, before compressing her neck, restricting her breathing. He then raped her.

The victim said that during the attack she felt her eyes were popping as she was throttled and began to feel dizzy and told her attacker that she could not breathe.

She said of the sex attack: “I was crying. I remember swearing at him. I just remember shouting at him to stop it.”

Following the assault she flagged down a passing bus as she tried to escape from her attacker.

During his earlier trial Chikane, who followed proceedings with the aid of an Arabic interpreter, claimed that the victim told him to have sex with her. He said: “She forced us to do sex with each other.”

Chikane, who had drank half a bottle of whisky, said that afterwards he told her he did not want to have sex with her again.

Defence solicitor advocate Richard Souter said Chikane continued to maintain his position that he did not commit the offence of rape.

He said Chikane was from Algeria but has been in the UK since 2013 and helped support his parents in the north African country by sending money to them.

He said he has a wife and a young son and it was a matter of concern to him that his ability to play a role in the child’s upbringing would be limited while in jail.

Chikane was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely following his sentencing. The judge made a non-harassment order prohibiting him contacting or attempting to contact the victim.