BIRMINGHAM MAN DETAINED FOR VIOLENT RAPES AND KNIFE THREATS
A man identified as Robin Masih, aged 23, who had no fixed address, was involved in the rape of two women in Birmingham city centre during the summer of 1996.The first victim, a 45-year-old mother, was attacked in Warstone Lane Cemetery after Masih approached her, demanding money.
When she explained she had none, he punched her in the face and threw her into some bushes.
During this assault, the victim felt a knife being drawn across her neck and was stabbed in her legs twice.
The second victim was assaulted at Paradise Circus multi-storey car park when Masih grabbed her and threatened her with an eight to ten-inch knife.
She was punched and raped after kicking out at him.
He was arrested in the Broad Street area on August 10 and initially denied the charges, but laboratory analysis of condoms used during the rapes confirmed his involvement.
The court heard that Masih was diagnosed as a schizophrenic and possibly had a serious personality disorder.
He was transferred from prison to Ashworth Special Hospital and was ordered to be detained there indefinitely.
The judge commented on the violence involved in the assaults, stating, 'These rapes have a number of aggravating factors.
In the first rape you used very considerable violence.
In the second rape, you grabbed a middle-aged woman late at night.
It must have been a terrifying experience.'
