40-year-old man abuses woman in Blackburn

On Friday 19 November 2021, Kamran Rashid, then 37, and his 20-year-old victim were with friends at his former home on Cheetham Street in Blackburn.

Preston Crown Court heard they all drank alcohol and took cocaine.

At 6am, after the friends had left and Rashid’s victim went to sleep before she “passed out” and woke up in his bed at 11am.

Prosecutor Rob Treble told the court that Rashid groped the woman during a sexual act.

He said: “The victim didn’t know what to do. She said she just stayed quiet for fear he would hurt her if she resisted.”

Mr Treble said she texted a friend about the incident from a nearby bathroom.

He added: ‘Without trying to alarm Rashid, she told him she was leaving his house to go for a walk before running down the street to warn someone about the attack.

“They said she was hysterical and had difficulty breathing and reported the attack to the police.”

Rashid was questioned and denied attacking his victim, despite evidence of his DNA on her body.

The court heard that Rashid had told police that the victim got into his bed and began sexual contact with him while he was sleeping.

The court was read the victim’s personal statement in which the victim stated that she blamed herself for the assault and reported that she had been prescribed antidepressants and that she had started self-harming as a result of the incident.

In his defence, John Batchelor told the court that Rashid would not be charged until October 2023 and that he had denied the rape allegation until his trial date.

Rashid was due to stand trial for rape in April, but pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of assault by penetration.

Mr Batchelor also said that since this offence his client has served time in prison for other offences and has completed many courses and made good progress in obtaining these certificates while in prison.

Rashid has been convicted of 86 offences on 35 occasions, including sexual abuse of a child under 16, breaching sexual harm prevention orders, dangerous driving and trafficking in Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.

Judge Philip Parry sentenced Rashid to an extended prison term of 14 years.

He said: ‘She was a vulnerable young woman with drug problems and it was known.

“You are clearly a dangerous man with an attraction to children and vulnerable adults and your actions have clearly caused significant harm to your victim.”

After the case, Det. Con Sarah Fyans of the East Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit said: “Rashid is a dangerous pervert who committed this heinous offence against a truly vulnerable young woman.”

“Rashid knew exactly what he had done, but made the victim wait until the day before she was due to give evidence in court before entering his guilty plea.

“The victim in this case has shown incredible strength and resilience throughout the legal process. I want to express my admiration for the courage she has shown.

“I hope that the outcome of this case encourages other victims to come forward, knowing that they will be believed and listened to. And that we will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice.”