Laughing attackers jailed for ten years each after Darlington rape

GUILTY: Sarkatt Salim, left, and Aram Rasheed, right, who has been jailed for ten years after being convicted of raping a teenager in Darlington

TWO men who laughed as they raped a vulnerable young girl in a house have each been jailed for ten years.

Sarkatt Salim and Aram Rasheed had unprotected sex with the terrified victim in what a judge said was a “callous and selfish” attack.

The smartly dressed duo then locked the doors of the property in Branksome Terrace, Darlington, and took the teenager’s mobile phone off her so she could not raise the alarm.

Salim, a doorman in the town, and Rasheed had denied rape, but both were convicted by a jury at Teesside Crown Court – in Salim’s case after more than nine hours of deliberation and only after a majority direction.

Unemployed Rasheed, who previously worked in a North Yorkshire meat factory, was cleared of a charge of assault by penetration.

The teenager had gone to the house with a friend, who was meeting another man, and the attack, on October 12 last year, took place when the two defendants returned to the property.

She was said to have shouted and screamed for help, but this was ignored.

Judge Sean Morris said Salim, 26, and Rasheed, 28, both of Killinghall Street, Darlington, had been convicted on the most compelling evidence.

He said: “It was a heartless rape. You both took advantage of her and then kept her in the house, knowing that she was in distress and wanted to contact somebody.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Morris said both men, who are of Kurdish decent and required translators during their trial, should be sent back to their home countries after completion of their jail terms.

But Ian West, for Rasheed, pointed out that the defendants, who were of previous good character, were British citizens and so could not be deported.

Judge Morris also criticised the evidence given by the teenager’s friend and said she had lied in her witness account.

Mr West, mitigating, said: “He [Rasheed] let himself down very badly on this night and took advantage of a situation in which he should have known better.

“There was no planning as far as he was concerned. He fell into temptation and it has cost him dearly.”

After the case, Detective Constable John Tyers, of Darlington CID, who accompanied the victim’s family in court, said: “I am happy for the victim that justice has been served.

“After undergoing such a traumatic experience she has shown bravery and determination in helping to bring the defendants to court.“I hope that with the support of family and friends and supporting agencies, including the police, she can move on with her life knowing the two men responsible have been convicted.

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