ABDELSALAM HASSAN SENTENCED IN NOTTINGHAM FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE IN OLD BASFORD PARK

In a case that has garnered significant attention in Nottingham, a man identified as Abdelsalam Hassan faced legal proceedings following a disturbing incident in Old Basford. The incident involved an attempt to assault a 14-year-old girl within the confines of Vernon Park, a well-known public space in the area. The events took place in February 2009, and the subsequent legal process culminated in Hassan being sentenced to an indefinite period of imprisonment for public protection at Nottingham Crown Court in October of the previous year.

Hassan, aged 34 and residing on Ilkeston Road in Nottingham, was handed a sentence that mandated a minimum term of five years before he could be considered for parole. This sentence was specifically designed to protect the public from potential future harm, given the serious nature of the crime he committed. The case drew further attention when Hassan challenged his sentence, appealing to the Court of Appeal, but his appeal was ultimately rejected.

During the appeal hearing, Hassan’s legal representatives argued that the original judge had erred in his assessment of the appropriate sentence. They contended that the judge had placed undue emphasis on a probation officer’s evaluation of Hassan’s dangerousness, which recommended the indeterminate sentence, rather than considering the opinion of a psychiatrist involved in the case. The psychiatrist had expressed the view that Hassan did not warrant such a severe, indefinite sentence, suggesting that his risk to the public might not be as high as the probation report indicated.

However, in her judgment, Mrs Justice Slade dismissed these arguments, reaffirming the validity of the original sentence. She emphasized that the guidelines clearly stipulate that cases involving rape should be considered for public protection sentences, and that the sentencing judge had appropriately applied these guidelines. Mrs Justice Slade stated, “We don’t accept the contention that the sentence for public protection was wrong in principle. The guidelines make it clear that the sentence of imprisonment for public protection must be considered in all cases of rape. In our judgment, the learned sentencing judge identified the relevant principles in deciding whether to impose a sentence of IPP and took into account the relevant factors. He was fully entitled to accept the assessment of dangerousness made in the pre-sentence report.”

Hassan’s case underscores the ongoing legal debates surrounding the appropriate sentencing for serious sexual offenses and the balancing act courts perform in assessing dangerousness and public safety. Despite his appeal being rejected, the case remains a stark reminder of the criminal justice system’s efforts to protect vulnerable members of society from predatory behavior.