The man was jailed for 10 years (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary)
A 25-year-old man has been jailed for 10 years for raping a woman he had been harassing on a night out in Southampton. Musafar Hotak, an Afghan national, had denied raping the woman, but was found guilty following a trial at Southampton Crown Court last month and today, at the same court, he has been sentenced for rape and sexual assault by penetration. The court heard that on July 12, 2022, he approached the woman who was trying to find her partner after she was asked to leave a bar in Southampton for being drunk.
As she tried to call her partner, the defendant, who was 22 at the time, approached her. A voicemail later recovered from the woman’s phone captured her begging him to stop, the Sun reports. The next thing she remembered was waking up with him lying on top of her, raping her.
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Mr Hotak was convicted after a trial at Southampton Crown Court (Image: Getty)
Reading her personal impact statement to the court, the victim said: “What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible. I didn’t just feel violated, I felt erased.
“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.”
When the victim reported the attack to police, an investigation was launched. Forensic samples were taken at the time the offence was reported but Mr Hotak had left the country and was not able to be arrested until he returned to the UK in 2024.
Judge Gary Lucie handed Mr Hotak a 10-year sentence, to be followed by a four-year extended licence period. He also imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing any contact with the victim and ordered that Mr Hotak be placed on the sex offenders’ register.
He told Mr Hotak, who was assisted by a Pashtu interpreter: “The Home Office will consider whether to deport you.”
He added: “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.”
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Elizabeth Medland, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a terrifying and traumatic attack on a young woman who was only trying to get home safely after a night out with friends.
“Musafar Hotak exploited her, ignored her protests, and violated her when she was unable to protect herself.
“My thoughts are with the victim in this case, whose powerful witness testimony was instrumental in securing a conviction.”
Detective constable Laura Cook, the officer leading the investigation, said: “We are pleased to see Hotak behind bars for what he has done.
“Reducing violence against women and girls is a priority for us, and this case shows our determination to pursue offenders and protect victims.
“This has been a long and incredibly difficult journey for the victim, and her courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation has been truly commendable.
“I also want to recognise the dedication of the wider investigations team, whose hard work and professionalism throughout this case helped ensure that a dangerous offender has been brought to justice. I hope today’s outcome brings the victim some sense of closure after everything she has endured.”
If you have been affected by this story or you are struggling, you can contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit https://www.samaritans.org/.