Jailed Telford rapist recommended for open prison transfer

Shahmeel Khan, now 33, raped his victim, then an A-level student three times, forcing her to flee Telford to get away from him.

In 2011 a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court found Khan guilty of the three offences, which happened between June and August 2007.

Khan, of Victoria Avenue, Wellington, was given three concurrent 10-year jail terms for the sex crimes.

When Khan was jailed for the rapes he was already behind bars for an indeterminate period after a serious robbery.

The 10-year jail term for rape was added to the end of a previous robbery sentence and at the time West Mercia Police said it would be at least 2020 before he could apply for parole.

In response to his application, the Parole Board has recommended to the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland that he be transferred to an open prison.

Monitored

Open prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or other resettlement purposes.

When asked by the Shropshire Star whether the Telford community can be reassured that they will be safe when Khan is released, and what rehabilitation he had undertaken - the Ministry of Justice replied: “Serious sex offenders released on licence are closely monitored and can be returned to prison if they breach strict conditions such as curfews and exclusion zones.”

A decision over the open prison move is expected to be made this month by senior officials specialising in public protection.

Speaking after Khan's sentencing, then Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, from West Mercia Police, said he hoped the jail term would act as some consolation for the victim and her family.

Mr Jamieson said: "Only Shahmeel Khan himself knows the reason why he carried out these three attacks – attacks that he has shown absolutely no remorse for."

The court had been told that Khan had experienced a difficult upbringing.