Two teenage Afghan nationals seeking asylum in the UK have been handed lengthy sentences for the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Leamington Spa town.
Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both 17, pleaded guilty to the horrific attack that occurred in May. The sentencing at Warwick Crown Court highlights the severe consequences of betraying the sanctuary offered by the country.
The court heard that on May 10, Jahanzeb and Niazal befriended the victim before leading her into a secluded "den-type" area in parkland in Leamington Spa. They pushed her to the ground and raped her, despite her cries for help. Footage taken by the victim during and after the incident was described as highly distressing, showing her screaming and detailing the offenses.
The victim had become separated from her friends on a grassed area when the defendants approached her. Jahanzeb spoke in Pashto to summon Niazal, and they attacked her after she repeatedly shouted for him to let her go. A member of the public later assisted her, advising her to contact the police and staying with her until she was safe.
Sentencing, legal outcomes
At Warwick Crown Court on Monday, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano sentenced Jahanzeb to a youth detention term of 10 years and eight months. Niazal received nine years and 10 months. Both will begin their sentences at a young offender institution and transfer to prison later.
Deportation papers have been served on Jahanzeb due to his age at the time of the guilty plea. For Niazal, who was 16 when he pleaded guilty, the judge invited the government to recommend deportation. The pair must register as sex offenders for life and are subject to an indefinite restraining order.
Lifting reporting restrictions
Judge de Bertodano lifted reporting restrictions protecting the defendants' identities, following applications by media organizations. She stated that the boys had "betrayed" those who come to Britain seeking sanctuary and must observe the country's laws. Keeping restrictions in place could lead to speculation, targeting innocent people, and the spread of false information.
"A lack of information stokes public anger and leads to the unchecked spread of false information," the judge emphasized. This decision aims to prevent misinformation and ensure transparency in such serious cases involving asylum seekers and sexual offenses.
Victim's devastating impact statement
An impact statement read on behalf of the victim revealed the profound change in her life: "The day I was raped changed me as a person. Every time I go out I don’t feel safe. So much so that I’ve started to avoid it all together."
The judge acknowledged the irreversible harm, saying the defendants had "robbed" the victim of her childhood. "What you two did on that evening changed [the victim’s] life for ever," she told them. Nothing can restore what was taken from her.
Background of defendants
Both teenagers arrived in the UK as unaccompanied child asylum seekers from Afghanistan. Jahanzeb came in January this year and underwent an age assessment confirming he was 17. Niazal arrived in November 2024, initially accommodated in Kent before moving to local authority care in Warwickshire.
They pleaded guilty to rape at an earlier hearing in October. During the sentencing, each appeared in the dock with their own interpreter. Prosecutor Shawn Williams detailed how they went out of their way to befriend the victim with the intention of committing the rape.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Hobbs of Warwickshire Police reiterated that Jahanzeb and Niazal intentionally befriended the girl to rape her. The attack was described as "horrific" in legal submissions, underscoring the importance of justice in cases involving vulnerable asylum seekers and sexual violence.
