A 25-year-old Afghan migrant has been jailed for 10 years after raping a “vulnerable, intoxicated” woman in Southampton and later attempting to blame members of his own family for the attack. Musafar Hotak was convicted of rape and sexual assault by penetration following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.
The offences took place in the early hours of July 12, 2022, after the 24-year-old victim had been on a night out in the city. The court heard that the woman had been asked to leave Cafe Parfait by bouncers because she was drunk. As she tried to contact her girlfriend, Hotak – who was 22 at the time – began following her and paying her unwanted attention.
He told her he knew her partner and offered to help reunite them. Instead, he led her to his own address. In a voicemail sent from her phone, the woman could be heard telling him to stop. The next thing she remembered was waking up in Hotak’s home with him lying on top of her.
After managing to escape, she contacted police. A swab taken from her was later matched to Hotak’s DNA.
In a personal impact statement read to the court, the victim said the attack had “left scars in every part of my life” and led to self-harm and an attempt to take her own life.
“What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible. I didn’t just feel violated, I felt erased,” she said.
*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
“Since that day I have lived in fear, shame, silence and unbearable pain that I can’t fully describe. I was left feeling broken and empty and terrified of the world around me.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said CCTV footage placed Hotak with the victim on the night. Prosecutors told the court that he initially denied being the man captured on camera and sought to blame other members of his family, but investigators ruled out everyone he named.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Lucie imposed a 10-year prison term with a four-year extended period on licence. An indefinite restraining order was also put in place and Hotak was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.
Addressing him in court, the judge said: “You took advantage of the victim who was very drunk. It is obvious your offending has had a severe psychological impact on her which will probably remain with her for the rest of her life.
“I want to pay tribute to her for her bravery in coming forward and going through what must have been a very difficult time for her.”
Hotak, who is from Afghanistan and was assisted in court by a Pashto interpreter, was told that the Home Office would consider whether he should be deported following his sentence.
Source link
