Telford man, 21, gets five years for sexual assault and attempted rape

Muhammad Salim arranged to meet his victim after meeting her on Snapchat online.

The 21-year-old, of Crescent Road, Hadley, told the victim that she could help him deliver takeaway food as he was a delivery driver for a Chinese restaurant, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told yesterday.

Salim drove the pair to a quiet area at about 10pm on February 2 last year by fields at the end of a cul-de-sac.

The court heard that Salim had tried to kiss her, touched her, committed other sex assaults including attempting to rape the woman by trying to make her commit a serious sex act.

The victim had told police Salim had grabbed her hair and had pulled her face and tried to get her into the back seat of the car.

Mr Antoine Muller, prosecuting, said the young woman said that she carried out a sex act on Salim, but that she “had to do it” so she could get home.

A victim impact statement was read out, which said that before the offence had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and had started to get better when she decided to meet Salim.

Counselling

Mr Muller said: “She didn’t believe that anything sexual was going to occur and regrets going out and it has made her feel worse than before.

“The victim has not stepped out of her front door since the offence; she will only go out into the back garden.

“Police have referred her to counselling but she has only spoken to them over the phone.

“She’s stopped seeing her friends and feels as though she has been robbed of her life.”

Miss Elizabeth Power, on behalf of Salim, said he had been before the courts previously but not for similar offences.

She added: “This has been hanging over his head for 14 months.

“He had not told his father about the nature of the offence and his family have disowned him this week when they found out.

“His father is horrified at the shame and stigma he has brought to his family.”

Judge Anthony Lowe sentenced Salim to five years in prison for the offences, of which he will serve at least half.

On his release he will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a 10-year restraining order.

Mr Lowe said: “You lulled the victim into your car on a false story, saying she was going to help you carry out deliveries.

“She made it plain from the moment you started kissing her that your advances were unwelcome.

“She feels like she’s done something wrong and like a prisoner in her own home.”