An asylum seeker has been jailed after raping a vulnerable 18-year-old woman in a Nottinghamshire park.
Sheraz Malik, 28, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with an extended licence period of four years, after being found guilty of two counts of rape. The offences happened in Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 29 June last year.
Birmingham Crown Court heard the victim had been drinking in the park with a male friend and was heavily intoxicated when she encountered Malik and a group of men she did not know. Prosecutors said she was first raped by another man from the group, who has not yet been identified, before Malik took her to a secluded part of the park and raped her.
Judge Simon Ash KC said the victim was “particularly vulnerable” and that Malik knew she was very drunk and alone in a park at night with men she did not know. He said Malik repeatedly called her “a slut” after the attack and struck her in the face and head when she tried to resist.
Malik had denied the allegations and claimed the sex was consensual, but a jury found him guilty in January of two counts of rape. He was cleared of a third rape allegation.
The trial heard Malik was born in Pakistan and had previously lived in France, Germany and Italy before coming to the UK. A reporting restriction had earlier prevented publication of his immigration status until the trial had concluded.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said she continued to struggle to eat and sleep and had nightmares about the attack. She said she was also anxious about the possibility of giving evidence again if the second suspect is identified and charged.
When passing sentence, the judge said Malik posed a significant risk to the public and had shown no remorse or responsibility. He said a pre-sentence report found distorted thinking in relation to consent, entitlement and the objectification of women.
Nottinghamshire Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that officers are still trying to locate the second suspect involved in the attack. Detective Inspector Nicole Milner said the victim had shown courage, resilience and bravery throughout the investigation and court process.