BARZAN NAWSHOWANI'S SENTENCE IN GLASGOW INCREASED AFTER ABDUCTION AND RAPE CASE
In a recent development in a disturbing case from Glasgow, the prison sentence of Barzan Nawshowani, a man convicted of heinous crimes involving the abduction and sexual assault of a young woman, has been significantly increased following an appeal.Nawshowani, aged 38, was initially sentenced to six years in prison in February after being found guilty of raping a woman in a barber shop in Glasgow.
However, this sentence was challenged by the Crown Office, which argued that it was unduly lenient given the severity of his actions.
Details of the incident reveal that Nawshowani, who posed as a taxi driver, lured his victim, a 20-year-old woman, along with her friend, after a night out in Glasgow city centre in August 2022.
He had arranged to pick them up under the guise of being a legitimate cab driver.
After successfully convincing them, he transported the women to different locations, ultimately returning to Duke Street in the east end of Glasgow.
There, Nawshowani took the young woman into the barber shop where he was employed.
Once inside the premises, Nawshowani took measures to prevent her from escaping by closing the electric shutters and switching off the CCTV cameras, effectively cutting off any surveillance of his actions.
It was within this confined space that he committed the assault, raping the woman in a manner that has caused lasting trauma.
Nawshowani, an Iraqi Kurdish refugee who had successfully gained asylum in the United Kingdom, was convicted of rape following a trial and was initially sentenced to six years in prison.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) challenged this sentence at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.
Scotland’s senior law officer, Dorothy Bain KC, argued that the original sentence did not adequately reflect the gravity of Nawshowani’s crimes.
The appeal was heard by Lord Doherty, who sat alongside Lord Matthews and Lord Beckett.
The judges unanimously agreed that the original sentence was too lenient and decided to quash it, increasing Nawshowani’s prison term to eight years.
Upon release, Nawshowani will be subject to a three-year period of supervision, during which he can be recalled to prison if he breaches the conditions of his license.
The original sentencing judge, Lord Colbeck, had emphasized that the victim had suffered significant psychological harm as a result of the attack.
He pointed out that Nawshowani had targeted a vulnerable individual, noting her intoxication at the time of the assault.
Furthermore, Lord Colbeck highlighted Nawshowani’s lack of remorse, as he refused to accept responsibility for his actions and instead accused the victim of lying about what happened.
The appeal judges, including Lord Doherty, expressed their view that the original sentence failed to adequately account for the premeditated and predatory nature of Nawshowani’s conduct.
They underscored the serious impact on the victim, as detailed in her statement, and stressed the importance of the court’s role in protecting the public.
In their ruling, the judges reaffirmed that women should feel safe when traveling by taxi and made it clear that individuals who exploit vulnerable women and commit sexual offenses in such circumstances will face stern consequences.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring justice and safeguarding community safety in Glasgow and beyond.
