HISHAM AWAD SENTENCED IN GLASGOW FOR DRUGGING AND RAPING TEENAGER ON MARYHILL ROAD

Hisham Awad has been handed a prison sentence of seven and a half years after being found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Glasgow. The incident took place on Maryhill Road, where Awad lured the young victim to his flat under false pretenses by advertising a fake party through Facebook Messenger. The court heard that during her visit in January of the previous year, Awad was alone at the property and offered her a bottle of pineapple juice. Unbeknownst to her, the drink had been spiked with a combination of MDMA and methylone, substances known for their psychoactive effects.

After consuming the beverage, the girl quickly became drowsy and lost the ability to move, rendering her vulnerable to assault. Despite her incapacitation, she managed to send a distress message to her boyfriend, requesting police assistance before she lost consciousness entirely. The authorities responded swiftly, and Awad was subsequently arrested. Forensic analysis of the drinks confirmed the presence of MDMA and methylone, providing concrete evidence of the drugs used to incapacitate the victim.

During the court proceedings, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, the presiding judge, expressed grave concern over the use of drugs to overpower victims, describing such tactics as both alarming and indicative of premeditation. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the dangerous planning involved in the attack. Awad was also ordered to undergo supervised monitoring for an additional three years following his release, and he will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

It was revealed that this was not Awad’s first encounter with the law related to sexual misconduct. Earlier that year, he had assaulted an 18-year-old woman who had fallen asleep on a couch in another flat on Maryhill Road. Although this previous incident was separate from the recent attack, it added to the court’s perception of Awad’s pattern of offending.

Throughout the proceedings, the court acknowledged Awad’s criminal history, which includes charges related to drug supply, theft, and breaches of bail conditions. However, it was noted that he did not have prior convictions specifically for sexual offenses. Nonetheless, the court underscored the severity of his recent crimes, highlighting the calculated use of drugs to facilitate the assault and the betrayal of trust involved in the victim’s experience.