ARSHAD ARIF FROM SLOUGH SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPE IN WATFORD AND READING

In a case that has shocked the local community and highlighted the dangers posed by predatory offenders, Arshad Arif, a man from Slough, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses. The conviction stems from an incident that took place in November 2012, but the criminal history of Arif includes a previous conviction for a similar offense in 2006.

According to court records and police reports, Arif, 28 years old at the time of sentencing, targeted a 17-year-old girl in Slough. The attack occurred in Salt Hill Park, a well-known recreational area, after Arif had initially approached her outside a nightclub in Watford called Oceana. The court heard that the victim had become separated from her friends during the night, who also had her belongings, leaving her vulnerable and alone.

Arif, who was known to the police as a dangerous predatory offender, offered to assist her, and the two traveled together to Salt Hill Park. Once there, he took her to a secluded spot where he subjected her to a brutal assault, raping her twice. The jury at Reading Crown Court found him guilty of two counts of rape, a verdict that underscores the severity of his actions.

During the trial held in May, the court was presented with evidence of Arif’s predatory behavior. Det Sgt Lucy Deane of Thames Valley Police commented after the sentencing, stating, “He literally hunted his victim down, identifying her vulnerability and taking the worst kind of advantage imaginable.”

Arif’s criminal history includes a previous conviction from October 2004, when he befriended a girl outside a kebab shop in Reading. He then offered her a lift, took her to a flat, and raped her. Initially, he denied the allegations, but during his 2006 trial, he changed his plea to guilty, acknowledging his guilt.

As part of his sentencing, Arif was ordered to serve a minimum of six and a half years before he can apply for parole. Additionally, he has been placed on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. He resides on Belfast Avenue in Slough, a location that has now become associated with this disturbing case. The police and community officials hope that this sentence will serve as a warning to others and provide some measure of justice for the victims involved.