SALAHUDDIN MOHAMMAD AND HIS CRIMES IN NEWCASTLE
A 29-year-old man named Salahuddin Mohammad from Westgate Road, Newcastle, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a disturbing series of sexual assaults targeting two women in the heart of Newcastle city centre.The crimes, committed in a short span of time, involved heavily intoxicated victims who found themselves waking up next to him with no recollection of their encounters.
The ordeal left both women deeply traumatized and faced with the ongoing fear of possible health repercussions.
Mohammad was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of raping both women following a trial that revealed the horrifying details of the incidents.
Judge Stephen Earl sentenced him to serve 11 years in prison, with the requirement that he serves at least two-thirds of this sentence before being considered for parole.
Additionally, he was ordered to be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
During the sentencing, Judge Earl expressed concern over the emotional toll taken on the victims, emphasizing that the victims’ fears about potential transmission of infections contributed to significant additional stress.
He stated, "Each of them mentions the Hepatitis B test and it put them through additional stress." The judge acknowledged the profound trauma the women experienced and highlighted the seriousness of Mohammad’s predatory behavior, describing his acts as "horrific" and "sexual predatory behavior." He hoped that with support from loved ones, the women could eventually begin to rebuild their lives and recover from the ordeal.
The first victim, a university student, recounted that she had been out enjoying a night in Newcastle city centre in 2018.
She awoke the following morning in an unfamiliar flat, sharing a bed with a man she later identified as Salahuddin Mohammad.
She remembered that they had engaged in sexual activity but had no memory of meeting him or how she came to be in his flat.
Her experience was traumatic, and the case was still under investigation when police received another report.
A second young woman approached authorities, describing a similar experience that occurred in the same vicinity.
She had also been out in the city and awoke in an unknown setting next to a man she did not recognize.
Although she remembered having sex, she had no memory of meeting the man or how she ended up there.
Prosecutor Anthony Dunne, during an earlier court hearing, detailed that both women were heavily intoxicated at the time of the incidents.
While the investigation could not establish how they became so intoxicated, the prosecution argued that Mohammad exploited their vulnerable state by taking them back to his flat and engaging in non-consensual sex while they were intoxicated and unable to provide consent.
It was also brought to light that he did not use a condom during either encounter, despite receiving treatment for a serious infection, later confirmed as Hepatitis B.
The possibility of transmitting the infection was a significant concern for the victims.
Both women underwent testing for the disease, which caused a great deal of emotional distress.
Fortunately, the tests confirmed that neither of them contracted the infection.
Mr.
Dunne clarified that there was no concrete evidence linking Mohammad to their intoxication; thus, it couldn’t be proved that he was responsible for their state of inebriation.
The first victim shared her ordeal through a statement read aloud in court, expressing how the experience had devastated her life.
She described undergoing an intimate medical examination, discussing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and being vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
She explained that police discovered medication in Mohammad’s home that indicated treatment for either HIV or Hepatitis B.
By the time she was able to seek further testing, she learned that she was only infected with Hepatitis B, which she had been vaccinated against.
However, the waiting period to confirm her health status caused immense anxiety and stress, leading to nightmares and even suicidal thoughts.
Her studies at university were impacted by the trauma, and she recounted how her father witnessed her emotional distress during the trial, describing the proceedings as incredibly burdensome.
The second victim expressed that the aftermath of the assault plunged her into shock and humiliation.
She described the harrowing medical examinations and the emotional toll of providing her statement.
The news that the man responsible had Hepatitis B intensified her fears, though she was relieved upon receiving the all-clear.
She admitted that the experience drastically changed her, resulting in weight loss, social withdrawal, and a profound loss of confidence.
She noted that her trust in others has been severely damaged since the incident.
Legal proceedings also included plans for a sexual harm prevention order to prohibit Mohammad from being alone with any female under the influence of alcohol.
The sentencing hearing was adjourned to a later date for Judge Stephen Earl to determine the precise length of Mohammad’s imprisonment.
Throughout the trial, defense lawyer Annelie Haugstad pointed out Mohammad’s background, noting that he left school in Sudan at the age of 14 and was compelled to leave the country after protesting against the government, hinting at a troubled past that may have influenced his actions.
