A 38-year-old man has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of serious sexual offences in the Glasgow area between March 2020 and September 2021.
Muhammad Hafeez was sentenced today, Tuesday, 21 November 2023 at the High Court in Glasgow in connection with two accounts of rape.
Detective Inspector John Lambert of Greater Glasgow Division said:
“Hafeez is a despicable individual who subjected two young women to a horrific ordeal purely to satisfy his own sexual needs.
“I commend these women for coming forward and showing strength throughout the process which has led to Hafeez facing the consequences for his actions.
“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual violence to come forward and report it to us, regardless of the passage of time. We, working with partner agencies, will support you through the process, investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice.”
“Anyone with information or concerns should contact Police Scotland on 101, or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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Muhammad Hafeez then struck again carrying out a similar attack on another young victim in his car.
The 37-year-old is now behind bars having been convicted of both crimes after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
The first victim – a stranger then aged 18 and who suffered from personal issues – had travelled from Ayrshire into Glasgow on the night of March 20, 2020.
She ended up in the Central News shop in the city’s Union Street, where Hafeez worked.
CCTV captured him chatting to the girl at the till. The court heard he went on to lure her into the back of the newsagents before threatening and attacking her.
The traumatised victim went on to leave the newsagents after the attack and got on a train to Edinburgh – miles from where she lived.
She eventually got off in Kirknewton, West Lothian, where police happened to find her.
The girl later reported her ordeal of what happened at the shop.
In her closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said Hafeez had seen the vulnerable girl “a mile off” and took advantage of her.
Ms Dalziel stated at one stage: “Muhammad Hafeez was nearly twice her age. Do you believe, in all the circumstances, that she agreed to have sexual intercourse?”
The second victim – who was around the same age as the first – was raped in a motor in an unknown car park in Glasgow on September 13, 2021.
She had also been in the shop and – in an apparent act of “goodwill” – Hafeez had offered to give her a lift before forcing himself on her.
Hafeez had denied the accusations during the trial.
But advocate depute Ms Dalziel said he “carried out a predatory campaign of behaviour to satisfy his own sexual needs” by preying on “vulnerable” victims.
She concluded: “This is not a series of unfortunate coincidences and not the universe conspiring against him.”