LONDON MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTING TO RAPE UNCONSCIOUS WOMAN IN CITY OF LONDON BAR

A man has been imprisoned after attempting to assault an unconscious woman at a bar in the City of London.Rizwan Afzal, aged 52, received a sentence of six years and five months in prison following the sexual assault that took place earlier this year.As reported by City of London police, the incident occurred in the early hours of February 27, 2024. The assault was carried out inside the premises while the victim was unconscious, and the attacker was later identified through CCTV footage and phone data. Afzal was arrested in late April after being located via information linked to a phone number shared with police. He pleaded guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault, and attempting to cause a woman to engage in penetrative sexual activity.Police officials have emphasized the importance of reporting sexual crimes, stating that they take every report seriously regardless of how much time has passed since the incident. Detective Constable Olivia Hall praised the bravery of the victim who reported the attack and assured that police believe, listen and support victims throughout the process. She added, “We are committed in tackling violence against women and girls, and we take all reports of rape and sexual assault seriously and encourage victims to report their experience to police, no matter the length of time that has passed.”The police also confirmed that the attack took place inside a closed licensed premises, though the name of the bar has not been publicly disclosed. The victim reported the incident in April 2024, over a month after the assault, which enabled officers to conduct their investigation, including reviewing CCTV footage. Afzal was subsequently sentenced to six years and five months in prison.Following the sentencing, City of London police expressed their appreciation for the victim’s courage and urged others who experienced similar crimes to come forward. They also provided information on how victims can report incidents confidentially online or contact the police directly via the non-emergency number 101 or emergency number 999.City police reiterated their support for victims and highlighted available support organizations and charities for those affected by sexual assault. Detective Constable Hall remarked, “I would like to praise the bravery and courage shown by the victim in reporting to the police and throughout the investigation. We are committed in tackling violence against women and girls, and we take all reports of rape and sexual assault seriously and encourage victims to report their experience to police, no matter the length of time that has passed.”