TAHIR NAZIR'S UK-WIDE RAPE TOUR TARGETS GLASGOW AND OTHER UNIVERSITY TOWNS
In May 2016, a disturbing series of crimes unfolded across the United Kingdom, involving a man named Tahir Nazir, a 40-year-old businessman from Glasgow, who embarked on a heinous spree targeting vulnerable university students.His actions, which spanned numerous cities including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff, and notably Glasgow, have shocked communities and prompted a lengthy legal process.
Nazir’s criminal activities were characterized by a calculated pattern of predatory behavior, primarily during the festive period of Freshers Fortnight, a time when students are often intoxicated and less vigilant.
He exploited these circumstances by attempting to infiltrate student accommodation, seeking to prey on intoxicated women enjoying cheap drinks and social events.
CCTV footage captured Nazir prowling late at night through student halls, trying to open doors to women’s rooms, clearly indicating his intent to commit sexual offenses.
One particularly horrifying incident involved a victim who awoke to find Nazir, naked from the waist down, licking her neck and attempting to assault her.
She was in a state of shock and fear, realizing she had narrowly escaped a serious assault.
In another case, Nazir was seen lying on top of a woman who was heavily intoxicated at her student residence in Cardiff, further illustrating his pattern of targeting vulnerable individuals.
Nazir, who claims to be the managing director of a hospitality and entertainment company, was arrested in November after a group of female undergraduates reported someone trying to open their bedroom doors.
During the investigation, police discovered empty Viagra packets in his vehicle and a fake ID claiming he was a student at Glasgow University.
Despite his claims that he was merely on a “motoring trip of a lifetime,” authorities found evidence suggesting otherwise.
Nazir had driven approximately 7,000 miles across various university towns, including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, and Cardiff, often sleeping in his car during the journey.
Further evidence included 38 images of Victoria Halls in Manchester stored on his mobile phone, along with internet searches for “high school girls,” “Freshers Week,” and “Swansea University Students Union.” His behavior was also linked to the use of drugs; he reportedly snorted cocaine and took Viagra to heighten his sexual drive, which he used in his predatory pursuits.
The court proceedings revealed that Nazir had a history as a student himself in the 1990s, although he never completed his degrees in business studies or IT at the University of Dundee, University of the West of Scotland at Paisley, and the University of Strathclyde.
Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw emphasized the extent of Nazir’s travels and predatory behavior, stating, “Evidence shows him travelling from Scotland down into England, through England and down into Wales – all part of sexually predatory behavior targeted at university undergraduate females.” The incidents detailed in court included a break-in at a shared house in Cardiff’s Cathays neighborhood on September 22 of the previous year, where Nazir was found lying on top of a heavily intoxicated friend after breaking in through a bathroom window.
Although he fled after the altercation, he returned shortly afterward to harass the women before being driven away by other housemates.
Another incident occurred on November 1 at New Lawrence House student halls in Hulme, Manchester, where Nazir attempted to follow a student into her room after she shut the door.
He then stalked the corridors, trying various doors in search of another victim.
He was eventually caught after a young woman awoke to find him licking her neck, naked from the waist down, and thrusting against her.
Despite being forced out of her room, Nazir continued attempting to access other rooms, displaying clear signs of sexual frustration and arousal.
Nazir’s arrest on November 6 was facilitated by reports from other students in Fallowfield, Manchester, who noticed someone trying to open their doors and began communicating about it via text and Facebook messages early that morning.
DNA evidence linked him to the crimes, confirming his involvement.
During the trial, Nazir denied all allegations, claiming he was invited back to the halls by female students in Cardiff and Hulme and that he was searching for a drug dealer who had ripped him off in Fallowfield.
He insisted that his journey across Britain was simply a “trip of a lifetime,” motivated by his love of driving and fascination with Gothic architecture.
He also stated that he used fake university IDs to obtain discounts and took Viagra to boost his energy for clubbing.
The police, represented by Detective Constable Matt Gregory of Greater Manchester Police, condemned Nazir’s actions, emphasizing the intrusion and harm caused to his victims.
Gregory stated, “Not only did Tahir Nazir commit these horrendous offences against his victims but he did it in one of the most intrusive ways possible by attacking them in their own home.
Nobody should have to worry about being attacked when they are in the sanctity of their own home, they should feel safe and comfortable.” Ultimately, Nazir was convicted of multiple charges, including trespass with intent to commit an offence, sexual assault, attempted rape, and three counts of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Manchester Crown Court and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, marking a significant legal victory for justice and victim protection.
