RAHEELAH DAR FROM MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON UNDERAGE GIRL
In August 2016, a woman from Middlesbrough was handed a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses against a minor girl.The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of manipulation and abuse carried out by Raheelah Dar, who showed no visible emotion as she was led into the dock at Teesside Crown Court.
Judge Recorder Tim Roberts, QC, emphasized that Dar would not be eligible for automatic release halfway through her sentence, stating that her release would depend on the Parole Board’s assessment of her safety and rehabilitation.
The courtroom was filled with members of the community who supported Dar, a 43-year-old woman, as she was taken into custody.
The judge highlighted that her release would be contingent upon a careful review, especially considering that two of her crimes marked her as an offender of particular concern.
Raheelah Dar, residing at Central Mews in Middlesbrough, was found guilty after a retrial held in June.
During this trial, her victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, delivered a heartfelt testimony about the profound and lasting impact of the abuse she endured.
The court heard how Dar systematically isolated, manipulated, and molested the young girl, gradually grooming her by convincing her she was special.
The abuse included physical acts such as kissing the girl, engaging in sexual conversations, and undressing in front of her.
The situation escalated to more intimate sexual assaults, including encouraging the girl to kiss a boy, further complicating the trauma.
In her victim impact statement, the young girl described suffering from increasing flashbacks and anxiety attacks, which severely affected her daily life.
She expressed her dread of personal contact and shared how the court process, which began after her initial disclosures in November of the previous year, had been an unbearable ordeal that reignited her trauma.
Her statement underscored the emotional toll of the abuse and the justice process.
During mitigation, Alison Pryor highlighted the shame and hardship that Dar’s convictions had brought upon her and her family.
Pryor pointed out that the emotional strain might be more difficult to bear than the prison sentence itself.
She presented a substantial collection of references attesting to Dar’s good character and explained that her mental health had been fragile due to the death of her daughter in 2008 and her two failed marriages.
Dar was convicted on three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.
Additionally, she was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was banned from working with children for life.
The judge remarked that Dar’s targeting of the vulnerable girl was a calculated act of deceit and pretense, designed to conceal her offending.
Despite acknowledging her generally good character and resilience in facing life’s hardships, the court emphasized the seriousness of her crimes, which involved manipulation and betrayal of trust.
