Man who raped woman in toilet on first date jailed

MAN WHO RAPED WOMAN IN TOILET ON FIRST DATE JAILED

A man who raped a woman on a first date has been jailed for nine years.

Anwarul Islam, 38, formerly of Springett Avenue, Ringmer, near Lewes, in East Sussex, raped the woman in a pub toilet in Elmswell, Suffolk, in March 2022.

He had been found guilty of rape and sexual assault at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday.

Det Con Jasmine Mulley, of Suffolk Police, said she hoped he would "reflect on his attitude towards women".

Islam was introduced to the victim, a woman in her 30s, through a mutual friend, police said.

They exchanged voice notes and planned to meet the next day.

Despite having met only on the day of the attack, Islam researched hotel rooms on his phone and suggested they book one together.

The victim, in her personal impact statement read in court, said she thought "he was a nice guy" and had trusted him.

She added, "I've lost count of the amount of times I have cried since this happened.

I have been very sad and I don't know how to process this trauma." Islam was sentenced to nine years for rape and six years for sexual assault, to be served concurrently, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register along with an indefinite restraining order.

Det Con Mulley praised the victim for her bravery, stating that Islam refused to take responsibility, forcing her to relive the experience in court, and that the sentence would prevent him from harming others.