Sex attacker who raped 'vulnerable' woman in flat jailed

A man who raped a vulnerable stranger in a Glasgow flat has been jailed for five years.

Ahmed Haji, 31, from Yoker, Glasgow, said the sex was consensual but a jury at the High Court in Glasgow rejected the claim.

Temporary judge Simon Collins QC told Haji: “You continue to deny your guilt, but the jury rejected your account.

“You will go to prison for five years.”

Haji, who appeared in court via a video link, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register

The rape took place at a property in Springburn, Glasgow, in August 2018.

Co-accused Abdalla Awad, 23, was convicted of molesting the victim before Haji went on to rape her.

No background report was available for Awad and his case was continued until June 1. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Jurors heard how Haji was caught in the act by a witness as he attacked the woman after Awad had sexually assaulted her. Awad then went on to sexually assault a sleeping woman months later. Both men denied the crimes.

Haji was convicted of rape and Awad of two charges of sexual assault.

Awad, of Barmulloch, Glasgow, was found guilty in his absence as he was too ill to be in court for the verdict.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney said: “Each of them, to varying degrees, took complete advantage of her.”

Awad inappropriately touched the victim first before he left the room and Haji then raped her.

A witness said: “I saw him kind of face down next to her. I remember seeing his bum and kind of shuffling his trousers up.”

He said Haji then tried to push him and the victim was partially dressed at the time.

Jurors heard the victim was trying to “mentally block out” what was happening.

She was described as distressed, shocked and crying after her ordeal.

Haji claimed in evidence he jumped off the bed as “he wanted to go home” as he and his “missus” were due to go out for dinner later.

Awad’s second attack occurred when his victim awoke to find her outfit unzipped and him molesting her in a flat in Glasgow’s Woodlands in December 2018.