NATHAN AHMED SENTENCED FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE IN BURY

In August 2016, a man named Nathan Ahmed was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of attempted rape. The incident took place in Bury, specifically while Ahmed was residing at a bail hostel located on Tottington Road. Despite claiming he had no memory of the event due to intoxication, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of the serious offence.

According to court proceedings, the victim, a 19-year-old woman, and her friend had visited Ahmed’s address following a day out at a local pub. The group was socializing downstairs when the victim allowed Ahmed to kiss her, even though she had expressed her reluctance. As the evening progressed, her friend went upstairs with another male, and the victim, feeling uncomfortable and wanting to avoid being alone with Ahmed, quickly followed her friend.

Prosecutor Michael Knowles detailed the disturbing sequence of events that unfolded next. He explained that Ahmed began knocking on the door, demanding to speak with the victim. When she left the room, Ahmed forcibly pulled her into his bedroom. There, he pushed her onto the bed, removed her leggings and underwear, and started kissing and touching her. The court heard that he then pushed her legs apart and asked if something was wrong. The victim told him she did not want to proceed, but Ahmed persisted, getting on top of her and pleading, “please just let me try, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Despite her protests, the victim managed to push Ahmed off and immediately informed her friend about the assault. Following the incident, Ahmed became increasingly distressed. He threatened to self-harm and to remove the electronic tag he was wearing, which was likely a condition of his bail. He then proceeded to damage his bedroom and called the police, instructing them to come and arrest him.

A statement from the victim revealed the profound impact the assault had on her mental health, stating, “My quality of life has been affected and I have had nightmares and have sat in bed crying.”

During the hearing, Ahmed’s defense lawyer, Alexander Rostron, acknowledged his client’s guilt but emphasized that Ahmed had no recollection of the event itself. Rostron explained that Ahmed had a tumultuous life, frequently moving from place to place, which contributed to his lack of stability. He also noted that Ahmed had recently found some stability with his current partner, which made the situation particularly unfortunate.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a five-year restraining order to prevent Ahmed from contacting the victim. The case highlights the serious consequences of such offences and the importance of justice for victims of sexual assault.