A foreign student who prowled the streets before raping two women in separate attacks, has been jailed for 10 years. Computer games geek Haider Ali, 31, carried out the horrifying assaults eight months after arriving in the UK from Pakistan on a student visa to study at Teesside University. CCTV footage captured the moment Ali fled after subjecting his victims to terrifying ordeals in Stockton-on-Tees on September 7 last year.
One of his victims, a pregnant woman, feared for the life of her unborn child after being left injured by his brutal attack. The other woman endured a harrowing hour-long ordeal that has left her devastated. Teesside Crown Court heard Ali, who had been working in his brother’s take-away restaurant while studying in Middlesbrough, left but his shift and deliberately headed to an area of the town known for prostitution. His first victim, who was not a sex worker, was pushed to the ground and raped over the course of an hour as Ali ignored her pleas to stop.
He subjected her to a series of degrading acts, forcing her into multiple positions and attempting further assaults before fleeing when he heard voices nearby.
His victim described the attack as a nightmare that left her feeling “dirty” and unable to trust men.
She said in a victim impact statement: “The whole incident lasted nearly an hour and I felt it was never going to end. I felt so ashamed as I had thought that if something like that happened to me, I would be able to get away.
“But I froze and this feeling has remained with me.”
Ali, of Ayresome Street, Middlesbrough, returned to the same area a short time later, where he targeted a sex worker who was on her way to a bank.
After a brief conversation, she agreed to perform a sex act for £20, but Ali never intended to pay.
Instead, he led her to the same secluded spot and raped her.
She spoke of her terror that the assault might harm her unborn child, telling the court: “At the time of the incident I was pregnant. Just after the incident I was so worried that my baby was hurt and it could affect my pregnancy.
“I was actually bleeding and I was so worried I would miscarry.”
CCTV footage showed Ali fleeing the scene. He later shaved his beard to avoid detection.
Upon his arrest, he attempted to deny any wrongdoing, claiming the encounters were consensual. He was found guilty by jurors of three counts of rape at an earlier trial.
At his sentencing hearing, Ali continued to deny his crimes, telling the judge: “I’m a student in this country. I did charity work in Pakistan, I did charity work in the UK. How can a charity worker be dangerous?
“I’m a charity worker, I’m not dangerous to anyone. I deny all these charges. Sir, I didn’t do this, I’m a charity worker.”
Branding Ali a “dangerous offender”, Judge Richard Clews imposed an extended 12-year sentence, meaning he will serve ten years in prison and a further two years on licence.
He is liable for deportation but “may seek leave to remain”, the court heard.
Judge Clews told Ali: “Your treatment of both of these women was appalling and utterly selfish. You ran away. You were seen running away on CCTV. You said in evidence you thought that was because someone was chasing you. More likely, it was because you knew your behaviour had been very wrong and you didn’t wish to be apprehended.
“On the plus side, you are well spoken of by members of your family and people who know you. And I accept that you have done a considerable amount of work for charity. You have no previous convictions either here or in Pakistan and I accept it is difficult for you to face this situation in a foreign country.
“You have no victim empathy at all. Moreover, you seem to have a sense of entitlement to behave how you wish regardless of anyone else’s feelings or rights. The impression that comes across is that you feel entitled to help yourself to sexual activity at a time and place of your choosing, regardless of whether anyone wants to engage with you or not.
“Consequently, this is conduct that might well be repeated.”