SHIBBIR AHMED FROM STANWAY SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN COLCHESTER

In December 2018, a deeply disturbing case unfolded involving Shibbir Ahmed, a man from Stanway, who was convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of several years. The proceedings took place at Chelmsford Crown Court, where Ahmed, aged 58, faced justice for crimes that have left lasting scars on his victims.

Ahmed's criminal activities first came to light when it was revealed that he had assaulted a teenage girl sometime between July 2007 and July 2008. During that incident, Ahmed, who was operating the Tandoori Villa restaurant in Stanway, had lured the young girl with alcohol and then attacked her while she was unconscious. The trauma inflicted on her has persisted for over a decade, and her emotional suffering was vividly expressed during the court proceedings. She, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, shared her ongoing struggles with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, which she attributes directly to the assault.

In her victim impact statement, she explained, “What happened to me was a number of years ago, when I was about 16 years old, I am now 27 years of age. I have suffered with anxiety and depression and I am taking medication for these conditions. I have not been able to engage with mental health services as I struggle to see and speak to people I do not know on a one-to-one basis. I struggle day to day to go out and do not go out socially.” She also described her difficulties with everyday activities such as ordering taxis or takeaways and expressed her discomfort around Asian or foreign men, highlighting the profound and lasting impact of the assault.

Further complicating the case was the revelation that Ahmed had also sexually assaulted a second young girl in 2016. This victim, whose statement was read aloud in court by prosecutor Diana Pigot, recounted her own distressing experience. She expressed regret for not heeding her mother’s advice to avoid the restaurant where the incident occurred. Her statement revealed that the assault caused her to withdraw socially, hide away in her bedroom, and continue to experience anxiety that affects her professional life.

Throughout the proceedings, Ahmed’s defense attorney, Sasha Bailey, attempted to mitigate the severity of his actions by emphasizing his age, his role as a father of five, and his health issues, including diabetes and high cholesterol. Bailey argued that Ahmed was a family man who contributed financially to his household and that the offenses occurred some time ago, urging the court to consider these factors.

Ahmed’s family, including his wife, children, and friends, were present in the courtroom to witness the sentencing. Judge Patricia Lynch addressed the court, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes and the vulnerability of the victims. She stated, “There is little or nothing I can say which is not in the statements of the two victims. These are relatively serious offences, your victims were vulnerable by virtue of their age. In so far as the rape victim, I’m of the view that you took advantage of her age, the fact she had been drinking, the fact you gave her the alcohol and the fact she drunk to the stage where she passed out. The sexual assault on any young girl is a serious matter.”

In light of the gravity of his crimes, Ahmed was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and ordered to register as a sex offender for the same period. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the offenses and the need to protect the community from potential future harm caused by Ahmed’s actions.