Residents of Leamington Spa have expressed disbelief following the sentencing of two teenage asylum seekers for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in the town.
The attack, which took place on May 10, has left the community reeling, with many struggling to comprehend how such a crime could occur in what they considered a “safe” area.
One local told GB News: “It was shocking really shocking. I haven’t got any other words, really.
“Leamington seems to be quite a safe place. I’ve lived here for a long, long time, and I’ve never really heard anything like this before. I think it’s awful, and I really feel for the young girl. It’s absolutely terrible.”
Another said: “Anything to do with rape, whether it’s a man or a woman, is appalling. It shouldn’t be happening.
“As far as I’m concerned, those responsible should receive a very severe sentence.”
A third told GB News: “The Government doesn’t seem to be doing much about it at all in these cases.
“These incidents appear to be increasing, and something needs to be done.”
One resident said that she has been left speechless by the news
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GB NEWS
Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both 17-year-old Afghan nationals seeking asylum in Britain, were handed lengthy youth detention sentences at Warwick Crown Court on Monday for the rape of a teenage girl.
Jahanzeb received a term of 10 years and eight months, while Niazal was given nine years and 10 months behind bars.
Both defendants had admitted to the offence at an earlier hearing at Coventry youth court in October.
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano granted applications from media organisations to lift reporting restrictions that had previously prevented the pair from being named publicly.
The court also ordered both teenagers to register as sex offenders following the attack in parkland in the Warwickshire town.
The court heard how the victim, who was visibly distressed, was led away from her friends and taken to a concealed “den-type” location within the parkland before being forced to the ground and assaulted.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge de Bertodano told the defendants that their actions had permanently altered the young girl’s life.
“No child should have to suffer the ordeal that she suffered,” the judge stated.
She emphasised that footage presented to the court made it impossible for anyone to believe the victim had consented to what occurred.
The judge noted that both teenagers had deliberately removed the girl from her companions despite her “vigorous protests” and taken her somewhere out of sight specifically to carry out the attack, fully aware their conduct was criminal.
Jahanzeb has already been served with deportation notification papers, the court heard, meaning he faces potential removal from the United Kingdom following his sentence.
For Niazal, Judge de Bertodano took the step of inviting the Government to recommend deportation proceedings against him as well.