A jury has convicted an asylum seeker of raping an 18-year-old woman described as “drunk and obviously vulnerable” in a Nottinghamshire park.
Sheraz Malik, 28, was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. He was acquitted on a third charge.
The jury of five men and seven women reached unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for approximately three hours.
It can now be reported that Malik is an asylum seeker born in Pakistan who had previously lived in Italy, Germany and France before arriving in the United Kingdom. A reporting restriction imposed at Nottingham Crown Court in September last year had prevented any mention of the defendant’s immigration status until the conclusion of the trial.
The attack took place on 29 June last year in Sutton Lawn park, Sutton-in-Ashfield. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 18 at the time.
Throughout the trial, Malik maintained that the sexual encounter had been consensual.
He lived in Bath Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, at the time of the offence. During proceedings, he wore a white T-shirt and black Nike jacket in the dock and listened with the assistance of a Pashto interpreter.
Malik showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned.
Judge Simon Ash KC thanked the jury for their service and told them their duty was complete.
The case has been adjourned for a mention hearing on 6 February, when a date for sentencing will be fixed. The judge ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared ahead of that hearing.
