JASON GARGHAN'S HORRIFIC CRIME SPREE IN BIRMINGHAM AND RUBERY ENDS WITH 15-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE

In a chilling series of crimes that terrorized the streets of South Birmingham and Rubery, Jason Garghan, a 26-year-old factory worker, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of violent and indecent assaults committed over an 11-month period. His reign of terror involved targeting teenage girls, many of whom were just 15 to 17 years old, at various bus stops and public locations across the area.

Garghan's modus operandi was particularly sinister; he would approach his victims at bus stops, often choosing those waiting alone. Once he had identified his target, he would threaten them with a knife, forcing them to comply with his demands. The court heard that he would then frogmarch the girls to open ground, where he would carry out his assaults. During these attacks, Garghan would threaten the victims with violence, telling them he would cut or kill them if they tried to escape or told anyone about what had happened.

One of the more disturbing aspects of his crimes was his attempt to instill fear and manipulate his victims by telling one girl he had AIDS after assaulting her. He also instructed his victims to 'pretend I am your boyfriend' as he carried out his heinous acts. The assaults took place predominantly in areas such as Selly Oak, Harborne, and Quinton, with most incidents occurring at knifepoint. The victims were often threatened with death or injury, and in many cases, Garghan would steal property from them during the attacks.

The police investigation into Garghan's crimes was extensive. Initially, they arrested the wrong man after witnesses and some victims mistakenly identified a similar-looking individual during an identification parade. This mistake nearly derailed the case, but police soon realized their error. The breakthrough came when Garghan was stopped for a motoring offence, and a DNA sample taken from him matched evidence found on one of the victims' coats. This crucial link led to his arrest and subsequent charges.

Garghan's criminal activities spanned from December 1996 to November 1997, with a notable gap during the summer months of 1997. His final and perhaps most disturbing assault occurred on November 4, 1997, when he forced a 15-year-old girl to strip on a golf course near Quinton Road, Harborne. During this attack, Garghan cut himself, and when police arrested him on suspicion of attempted theft from a vehicle, they analyzed his DNA, which confirmed his involvement in the assaults.

Throughout the court proceedings, Garghan pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault and one of robbery. He also requested that seven additional charges of indecent assault, seven of robbery, and one of assault be considered. Judge Alaistair McCreath described the offences as 'very grave,' emphasizing the severity of his actions. The judge stated, 'These were very grave offences indeed. You were accosting young women at knifepoint in public places and assaulting them in a quite appalling fashion. In a fashion that did not amount to rape but came as close to rape as can be.'

Mr. Mason, prosecuting, detailed the pattern of Garghan's crimes, highlighting that he would threaten his victims with violence and steal from them. He recounted that Garghan told one victim he would kill her if she told anyone, and cruelly joked about having AIDS during one attack. The police set up a major incident room to track his offending pattern, which ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.

Garghan, of Cock Hill Lane, Rubery, expressed remorse for his actions, with his defense attorney, Mr. Philip Harper, noting that he had cooperated fully with police and pleaded guilty early in the process. Harper also mentioned that Garghan had been under significant emotional distress, having recently broken up with his long-term girlfriend and feeling frustrated, which contributed to his behavior. Garghan's actions have left a lasting impact on his victims, many of whom experienced personality changes and sleepless nights following the assaults, which spanned nearly a year of terror across Birmingham and Rubery.