FOKRUL ISLAM FROM WICKFORD SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR RAPE IN LOWESTOFT

On January 5, 2015, a man named Fokrul Islam was sentenced to a nine-year prison term after being convicted of a serious sexual assault that occurred a decade earlier. The incident involved the abduction and rape of a woman in her 30s, who was attacked while walking along Raglan Street in Lowestoft in January 2005.

Islam, aged 38 and originally from Wickford in Essex, was found guilty of the crime at Ipswich Crown Court last year. The case was built on the strength of DNA evidence, which played a crucial role in securing the conviction. Suffolk Police confirmed that the victim had reported the assault at the time, a courageous act that significantly aided the investigation.

According to police reports, the victim’s prompt reporting of the attack allowed investigators to gather vital evidence, including DNA samples. The breakthrough in the case came when Fokrul Islam was detained by the UK Border Agency in March 2014 while he was traveling from Belfast to Liverpool. During this stop, authorities collected his DNA, which was later matched to the DNA found on the victim from the 2005 attack.

Detective Constable Darren Winchester of Suffolk Police emphasized the importance of the victim’s bravery, stating, “The victim showed immense courage by reporting the rape very quickly and that ensured police were able to secure vital evidence.”

Islam’s arrest and subsequent identification through DNA evidence led to his conviction and sentencing, bringing a measure of justice for the victim and closing a long-standing case that had remained unsolved for ten years.