Court told man twice raped and then stalked woman in Norwich

Harem Qasim who has been in the UK since 2021, raped the woman in Norwich twice over consecutive days in December 2022.

The Old Bailey in London heard Qasim then stalked the victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - in the days that followed.

The Old Bailey in London (Image: PA) Qasim sent her "unwanted messages", phone calls and also pictures of him outside her city home.

The 25-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared at the Central Criminal Court to be sentenced after he was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial at Norwich Crown Court in July.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Qasim was also convicted of two other offences, including stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Before Qasim was sentenced, the victim, who is in her 20s, attended court and bravely read out a statement detailing how the offending had affected her.

She said she felt "worthless" as a result of the offending which left her "scared and struggling to sleep at night".

The victim said she did not understand why he did this to her adding "no-one should have to go through this".

Harem Qasim (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Jailing Qasim for seven-and-a-half years, Judge Anthony Bate said he had "forced himself upon her despite her protests".

Judge Bate said Qasim, who remains "rooted in denial", was someone who "posed a high risk of serious harm to women".

Richard Moss, for Qasim, said he maintains the same account as he did at trial so could not rely on remorse. 

But he said Qasim had "no connections" with the Norwich area and so posed no particular risk to the victim or members of the public.

He said Qasim, who spoke through a Kurdish interpreter, wanted to return to Iraq at the earliest opportunity.

Qasim was made the subject of a restraining offer banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly until further order.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.