SAIDI HUSSAIN FROM MERSEYSIDE SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN BOOTLE NEWSAGENTS
A young girl was subjected to a horrifying sexual assault inside a newsagents located on Linacre Lane in Bootle, Merseyside.The incident unfolded after Saidi Hussain, a 24-year-old man from Netherton, lured her into a back room of the store under false pretenses.
Hussain, who had previously been a familiar face at the shop, gained her trust by offering her free vapes during past visits, creating an illusion of friendliness and familiarity.
On the evening of Sunday, March 5, last year, the girl, who was seeking to purchase cigarettes, returned to the store around 8 pm.
Hussain, who was known to her as a regular helper at the shop, told her that the cigarettes she wanted were kept in the back of the premises.
He then led her through a door into a secluded back room, where the assault took place.
According to court reports, Hussain's actions escalated as he made inappropriate propositions, telling her she could have cigarettes if she performed sexual acts.
He then exposed himself and proceeded to rape her on a pile of boxes, leaving her traumatized.
Following the assault, the girl managed to escape and sought refuge at a friend's house, where she disclosed the details of her ordeal.
The police were alerted, and Hussain was arrested the very next day.
During police interviews, he initially denied any sexual contact, claiming that no such incident occurred.
Later, he altered his account, suggesting that the girl had initiated the sexual contact herself.
However, at trial, Hussain reverted to his original denial.
Prosecutor Arthur Gibson emphasized the vulnerability of the victim, noting that she appeared to have been drinking, which made her more susceptible to exploitation.
He pointed out that Hussain, an asylum seeker from Iran with no current right to remain in the UK, had no prior convictions.
His defense lawyer, Gerald Baxter, acknowledged that Hussain had no criminal record but remarked that such history was insignificant given the gravity of the offense.
After a jury found Hussain guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, he was sentenced to nine years in prison.
He will be required to serve at least two-thirds of this sentence before being eligible for release on license.
The judge, David Potter, highlighted the betrayal of trust involved, noting that Hussain had previously helped the girl and had been friendly towards her, even offering free vapes.
The judge described how the victim, who was tipsy but not heavily intoxicated, had returned to the shop twice that evening, only to be manipulated and assaulted in a vulnerable state.
Judge Potter also condemned Hussain's dishonesty during police interviews, where he initially denied any sexual contact and later claimed the girl had initiated the acts.
The court heard that the girl found it extremely difficult to process what had happened to her.
The judge emphasized that Hussain exploited her trust and her intoxicated state to commit these serious offenses, taking advantage of her in an unfamiliar environment.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hussain was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a restraining order that prohibits him from contacting the victim indefinitely.
The court's decision underscores the severity of the crime and the importance of protecting victims from such predatory behavior, especially when the offender has previously been seen as a trusted figure in the community.
