SOHAIL AHMED SHOCKS GLASGOW WITH RAPE AND ABDUCTION CASE IN MARYHILL

A man identified as Sohail Ahmed, a former teacher from Glasgow, is facing serious criminal charges after a series of disturbing incidents involving two women he had recently met. The allegations include kidnapping, sexual assault, and sending indecent communications, with the potential for a life sentence if convicted of the most severe charges.

Ahmed, aged 51, was found guilty in the High Court in Glasgow of two counts of abduction and rape, as well as of sending inappropriate and indecent messages. The court heard that his actions have left his victims deeply traumatized, with one woman even being hidden under his bed while police arrived at his flat in the Maryhill area of Glasgow.

The first assault occurred just days before Christmas in 2022. The victim, a 41-year-old escort, had initially agreed to visit Ahmed’s flat after he contacted her online. During the trial, her lawyer, Tony Lenehan KC, questioned Ahmed about her ability to leave the premises freely. Ahmed responded that she was free to leave at any time, asserting that she was not detained.

However, prosecutors painted a different picture. They stated that Ahmed had forcibly prevented her from leaving, snatched her handbag, and locked the door of his flat. The assault took place across various rooms within the property. The woman was forced onto a bed, pinned down, and raped after her trousers were pulled off. The incident was captured on Ring doorbell footage, which showed her fleeing the flat in a distressed state, crying and wailing, with a child nearby asking, “Why is that lady crying?”

During the trial, Ahmed claimed that the woman had come to his flat voluntarily, had taken cocaine while there, and had consensual sex with him. He also alleged that she was upset because she was unable to take a laptop and accused her of attempting to steal items from his home, including belongings from his daughter’s wedding. He insisted that her frustration was not related to any non-consensual act.

The second incident took place on August 7, 2023, at Ahmed’s third-floor flat. The victim, a 28-year-old woman, was a stranger he had approached near Glasgow Central Station, exchanging friendly smiles before engaging her in conversation. Ahmed admitted that he asked her, “Do you want to disappear?” and claimed she agreed to go with him to his flat.

Prosecutors detailed that, once inside, Ahmed again detained her against her will, locking her in the property. He reportedly spiked her drink with a substance, which rendered her unconscious, and then proceeded to sexually assault her. Despite Ahmed’s claims that she was happy and that they spent several hours together, DNA evidence strongly suggested that he had engaged in sexual activity with her. When questioned about drugging her, Ahmed denied tampering with her drink.

Throughout the trial, Ahmed maintained that he did not have sex with the woman, despite the evidence pointing to the contrary. The court has ordered a full risk assessment to determine whether he should be subjected to a lifelong restriction order, reflecting the prosecutors’ view of his dangerousness. Ahmed remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court next month for sentencing proceedings.