SWARA JUBRAHIL MOHAMMAD FROM STOCKTON FACES DEPORTATION AFTER RAPE IN BISHOP AUCKLAND
In February 2021, a serious criminal case unfolded involving Swara Jubrahil Mohammad, a man originally from northern Iraq, who now resides in Stockton.The case drew significant attention as it involved a brutal assault that took place in Bishop Auckland, leading to a conviction that could result in his deportation back to his homeland.
According to court proceedings at Durham Crown Court, Mohammad was found guilty of raping a teenage girl in a grimy bedsit located above a pizza shop in Bishop Auckland.
The incident, which occurred more than two years prior to the trial, was described during the hearing as a deeply distressing and degrading act.
Despite Mohammad’s persistent denials, claiming that he had met the victim on previous occasions at his flat, the jury unanimously convicted him of the crime after a rigorous three-day trial.
Prosecutor Jonathan Walker presented a poignant impact statement from the victim during the sentencing phase.
She expressed that she had been overwhelmed with emotional distress for weeks following the assault.
She revealed that she had struggled to cope with her feelings and memories, often experiencing flashbacks during the night.
Although she mentioned feeling somewhat lighter emotionally now, she admitted to feeling uncomfortable around unfamiliar people, especially men, and stated that she had not entered into any romantic relationships since the incident.
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Walker also highlighted that the assault involved a degree of violence, although the jury was excused from deliberating on a second charge of assault causing actual bodily harm after the guilty verdict on rape.
The court noted that there was evidence of premeditation, including the offer of alcohol to the victim, which she did not accept.
Mohammad, aged 23 and residing on Yarm Road in Stockton, denied all charges, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings.
Following the conviction, Mohammad’s legal representative, David Callan, argued that his client had only arrived in the UK in November 2017, fleeing from a brutal attack in Kirkuk, northern Iraq.
Despite this, the court was unpersuaded, and Judge James Adkin delivered a stern judgment.
The judge described the crime as painful and degrading, emphasizing that Mohammad had lied throughout the trial and fabricated stories about previous meetings with the victim at his flat.
Judge Adkin acknowledged the ongoing trauma experienced by the victim, including persistent flashbacks, and criticized Mohammad for showing no remorse for his actions.
As a result, he imposed a prison sentence of 66 months.
The judge also stated that Mohammad would serve up to half of this sentence in custody before potentially being deported upon release on licence.
The court made it clear that deportation should be an automatic consequence of his conviction, reflecting the severity of the crime committed in Bishop Auckland.
