Iraqi man jailed for raping a Ukrainian refugee
An Iraqi man who raped a Ukrainian refugee has been jailed for nine years.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Jwamer Saygul, 24, of Ringway in Neston, raped the woman in a park in Neston on the Wirral on 3 October 2022.
He had met the woman, who had fled to this country from the ongoing war in Ukraine, on a bus from Chester City centre.
He said he was keen to get to know her better and arranged to meet her in Neston. They went to a park and he tried to initiate sexual contact.
When she rejected him, he grabbed her by the neck, threw her to the floor and raped her. She managed to run away and rang a friend who called the Police. Saygul was arrested.
He told officers in interview that sexual intercourse had been initiated by the victim and it was consensual.
He was charged with rape but pleaded not guilty at Chester Crown Court on 3 November 2022. A trial began on 3 April 2023. The jury went out on Thursday 5 April 2023. They took just 25 minutes to return a guilty verdict. He was sentenced to 9 years in custody the same day. He has also been placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for life.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan, a specially-trained prosecutor with CPS Mersey Cheshire’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: ‘The victim had fled the ongoing war and atrocities in her home country, and came to the UK, expecting to find refuge.
"Instead, she was forced to endure unwanted sexual advances from Saygul, which culminated in him attacking her violently, and raping her. We are a nation that aims to welcome those who seek refuge and it is unconscionable that this happens to anyone, let alone someone who is in such a potentially vulnerable position.
"This is not the first time Saygul has been convicted of a sexual offence. He is a predator, who thinks he can do whatever he wants, with no regard for anyone, especially women. He has shown absolutely no remorse.
"The trial was successfully concluded in two and a half days. The guilty verdict was reached in 25 minutes, which speaks volumes about what the jury thought of the plausibility of Saygul’s evidence.
"We welcome the swift sentencing exercise that has been undertaken by the Judge, meaning that Saygul has been sentenced on the same day that he was found guilty. It is a sentence which has been passed taking into account the sentencing guidelines, and the maximum sentencing powers available to the Judge for an offence of this nature and category.
"The victim has been incredibly brave, and we would like to thank her, the witnesses, and the prosecution team, for helping bring Saygul to justice. We hope the victim is able to move forward and wish her well.
"We would like to remind the public that offences of this nature are taken extremely seriously and will be prosecuted within the full extent of the law. There is absolutely no justification or mitigation in relation to sexual offences, or indeed any other offending behaviour. We would like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime to come forward. There are special measures that can be utilised to support victims and witnesses, and they were used successfully on this case."