CARLISLE RAPISTS JAILED FOR 30 YEARS FOR ASSAULT AND DRUG OFFENCES
Two men who committed rape in Cumbria and used their victims' addresses as bases for drug distribution have each been sentenced to a 15-year prison term, totaling 30 years combined.The offenders, Paul Kariuki and Fowzi Hlal, both aged 20 and residents of London, seized control of vulnerable women’s homes in Carlisle.
Their violence served to intimidate the women into silence and prevented them from reporting to authorities.
Hlal, previously living on Rydal Way in Enfield, Middlesex, was convicted of raping both women along with money laundering.
Kariuki, who had no fixed residence, was found guilty of raping both victims, possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply, and inflicting actual bodily harm on a woman in Carlisle.
The convictions took place at Hove Crown Court in Brighton on July 30, following their guilt being established.
Their sentences include the first 15 years in prison with a subsequent five-year supervised release.
They will both have to serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole.
The investigation involved a joint effort between police forces in Cumbria and Sussex, given that some offenses occurred in Sussex as well.
Detective Constable Tim Prangnell from Cumbria Police explained that the case was complex, involving organized criminal activities where offenders traveled nationwide.
He stated that these brutal sexual crimes were part of a broader pattern connected to county lines drug operations, where controlling vulnerable women’s homes—known as cuckooing—was intentionally used to dominate local markets.
The criminals believed that the women would not report their experiences or cooperate with police, but their assumptions were wrong," he emphasized.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Harkins commended the victims' resilience and stressed that their testimonies were crucial to securing the convictions, asserting that without the victims, the offenders might still be free.
Both Sussex and Cumbria Police praised the cooperative investigation and emphasized their commitment to ensuring that victims of cuckooing, especially involving sexual violence, are heard and that the offenders are brought to justice.
