ABDULLAH AL JABER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR BRUTAL DOUBLE RAPE IN EXETER

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Exeter, a man identified as Abdullah Al Jaber has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of committing a series of heinous sexual assaults against two teenage girls. The incident, which took place in August 2007, involved a brutal and sadistic attack that has left a lasting scar on the victims and the local community alike.

According to court proceedings, Al Jaber, a 31-year-old Bangladeshi national, had lured the two Russian girls, who were visiting Devon on holiday, into a perilous situation. The girls, aged 16 and 18, had been enjoying their time in Exeter when they were abducted during a night out in the city. The attacker then drove them into the countryside, where he subjected them to a terrifying ordeal at knifepoint. The court heard that Al Jaber's actions were driven by a disturbing sexual sadism, and he derived a sexual thrill from inflicting violence.

At the time of his arrest, Al Jaber was employed as a waiter at The Lord Haldon Hotel in Dunchideock, near Exeter. During his arrest, he bizarrely claimed that the girls were 'predatory prostitutes,' a statement that was met with disbelief given the evidence against him. The trial revealed that prior to the attack, Al Jaber shared a cannabis joint with the victims in his car before threatening them with a pair of scissors, escalating the situation into a violent assault. A jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty of six counts of rape earlier this year.

Throughout the sentencing hearing, Al Jaber remained impassive in the dock, showing no remorse. The court was informed that he posed a significant risk to the public, with a forensic psychiatrist, Dr. John Sandford, describing him as 'intelligent and articulate' but also highlighting his 'sexually sadistic disorder.' Dr. Sandford's psychiatric report indicated that the rapes committed in Exeter bore a disturbing similarity to an attack Al Jaber was alleged to have carried out in the United States.

Judge Graham Cottle, presiding over the case, emphasized the danger Al Jaber posed, stating, 'It is almost impossible to say when, if ever, the level of risk you pose to the public will be reduced to a level suitable for return to the community.' The court also learned that Al Jaber had a criminal history in the US, having served six years in Georgia for statutory rape following a plea bargain. Originally accused of raping three women at knifepoint, the charges were reduced, and he was released in 2005. Subsequently, he married a Polish woman, with whom he has a young child, and they moved to the UK in early 2007, facilitated by her EU citizenship.

Despite his claims of innocence and denial of involvement in the crimes, the overwhelming evidence led to his conviction. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the double rape, and he will serve a minimum of nine years before facing potential extradition back to the United States to face additional charges related to a separate attack on a mentally disabled woman. The case has raised serious concerns about public safety and the risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual violence, especially those with a pattern of sadistic behavior.