WATFORD RAPIST RIZWAN BASHIR SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

In October 2013, a disturbing case unfolded in Watford involving Rizwan Bashir, a 25-year-old man who was convicted of raping a teenage girl and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison. The incident took place after Bashir lured the girl, who was just 17 at the time, into a car and engaged in a series of manipulative actions that culminated in a sexual assault.

According to court proceedings at St Albans Crown Court, Bashir claimed that the girl, who had been unwell and sick in nearby bushes, had consented to sex. However, the jury, composed of eight women and four men, found him guilty of rape, dismissing his assertions of consent. The judge overseeing the case remarked that Bashir had shown “not a shred of remorse” for his actions.

During the trial, it was revealed that Bashir’s friend, Mohammed Saddique, was also involved but was acquitted of any sexual assault charges related to the case. The court heard that the events began when the two girls, both aged 17, were at a residence in Watford on a Friday evening. One of the girls received a message from Bashir, who asked to be her friend. She responded positively, expressing her desire to get drunk but explained she lacked the funds to do so.

Prosecutor Peter Shaw explained that Bashir arranged to meet the girls, and along with Saddique, who was also 25, they picked them up in Saddique’s Volkswagen Passat. The group then drove around Watford, with the girls consuming vodka they had in the car. The girls eventually arrived at King George’s Playing Fields, where they continued drinking, playing music, and dancing for about an hour.

As the night progressed, the girl who had been drinking more vodka began to feel ill and vomited in the bushes. The group returned to the car, but Saddique and the other girl went back into the park, leaving behind bottles of vodka and coke. It was during this time that Bashir assaulted the girl. Prosecutor Shaw detailed that Bashir grabbed and kissed her, and when she pushed him away, he responded by punching her twice in the face. He then proceeded to pull down his trousers and her leggings, raping her while she was shouting and crying. The other girl returned to the scene, prompting Bashir to stop his assault, after which the girls fled and contacted the police.

Bashir, who resides on Marlborough Road in Watford, pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape. During his defense, he claimed that he and the girl had been “getting along nicely and having a laugh,” and described their interaction as “grinding,” which he insisted was consensual. He maintained that the sexual activity only ceased when the other girl returned and his friend Saddique was laughing, asking, “What are you guys doing in my car?” He also asserted that at no point did the girl say “No.”

Meanwhile, Saddique, from St George Road in Watford, was accused of attempting to kiss the other girl and touching her breasts without consent. He claimed that their interaction was consensual and that they only kissed. The court found Saddique not guilty of the charges.

Prior to sentencing, Bashir’s defense lawyer, Rachel Bright, expressed concern that the publicity surrounding the trial had brought shame upon Bashir’s family. Judge John Plumstead sentenced Bashir to five years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. The judge stated that Bashir had initiated contact with the girl via the internet late at night, knowing she was under the influence of alcohol. Bashir’s decision to meet her and then to ply her with vodka demonstrated a clear understanding of her vulnerability.

The judge condemned Bashir’s conduct, describing it as a forceful and violent assault that left the victim in tears and despair. He highlighted Bashir’s lack of remorse and his failure to consider the consequences of his actions. As part of his sentence, Bashir was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of his crime and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.