SULTAN MOHAMMED SENTENCED IN COLCHESTER FOR RAPE OF ESSEX UNIVERSITY STUDENT

In April 2019, Sultan Mohammed, a 25-year-old man from Colchester, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping a university student at the University of Essex. The incident occurred on October 3, when Mohammed unlawfully entered a student residence on the university campus, located in Colchester, by exploiting an unsecured door. Once inside, he proceeded through another security door that had been left wedged open, allowing him access to the building where the victim was sleeping.

The young woman was unaware of his presence until she awoke to find Mohammed engaging in sexual activity with her. The assault was interrupted only when she regained consciousness, leaving her traumatized and in shock. Following the attack, Mohammed exited the premises and was subsequently captured on CCTV attempting to gain entry into several other buildings across the Colchester campus, indicating a pattern of suspicious behavior.

Authorities responded swiftly after the incident. A handprint found on a campus window led police to search Mohammed’s residence on Almond Way in Colchester. During the investigation, he was arrested and charged with the serious offence of rape. Despite his denial of the charges, a jury at Ipswich Crown Court convicted him after less than an hour of deliberation on the Friday following the trial.

Judge David Pugh sentenced Mohammed to eight years in prison and imposed a restraining order that prohibits him from entering the university campus or making contact with the victim. The case highlights the dangers of unsecured access points on university campuses and underscores the importance of security measures to protect students from such heinous crimes.