Muzafer Akram, who was jailed for three years and nine months for unlawful wounding
A CONVICTED rapist who wounded a young woman in the neck when he pounced from behind in a dark street with a lock knife has been jailed for three years and nine months.
Muzafer Akram attacked University of Bradford student, Denisa Anton, to fuel his craving for heroin, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.
Akram, 37, of Stanmore Place, Lidget Green, Bradford, struck on Laisteridge Lane, Bradford, at 7pm on January 29 when Miss Anton was on her way to library. She was wearing headphones and walking alone.
He followed her, grabbed her round the neck and held the knife to her throat. She suffered cuts to her neck and a defensive wound to her thumb as she struggled and screamed for help.
Akram repeatedly whispered to her to shut up during the assault.
Prosecutor Kirsten Mercer told the court: "It was a completely unprovoked attack that has left her deeply shaken."
Eye witnesses Bogdan Surghie, Robert Andreescu and Mohammed Umar Saleem rushed to Miss Anton's assistance and apprehended Akram at the scene.
All three were publicly commended for their actions by Judge David Hatton QC and were rewarded with £100 each.
Akram had small amounts of crack cocaine and cannabis on him at the time, the court heard.
He pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Miss Anton shortly before he was to stand trial.
Akram was locked up for 12 years for rape, robbery and house burglary when he was a youth, Mrs Mercer said.
His barrister, Andrew Dallas, said the attack on Miss Anton was an attempted robbery.
His client had married and had children since his serious conviction as a juvenile.
Mr Dallas said the rape Akram committed then was on a male.
"He is a hard working family man who put his past behind him," he told the court.
Akram's drug use had increased when his father was dying and he lost his employment.
He was desperate for heroin and tried to steal Miss Anton's bag.
He did not deliberately injure her with the knife, she was wounded in the struggle.
Judge Hatton said Akram was trying to rob Miss Anton satisfy his craving for heroin.
He targeted her as she walked alone on a dark street to her studies at the university.
"You wanted to steal her bag but you were apprehended and got away with nothing," he said.
The judge said Akram, who had been held in custody since the offence, was tackling his drug addiction in prison.
His probation officer had assessed him as a low risk of reoffending
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