Man who drugged and raped victim in East Lancashire car park given 15-year sentence

A man who drugged and raped his victim in an East Lancashire carpark has been given a 15-year jail sentence.

In June 2023 Akaash Ibra lured his victim to a carpark on an isolated road in Cliviger where he drugged and raped her.

30-yaer-old Ibra, formerly of Paddock Lane in Halifax, but now of no fixed address, was arrested and later charged with rape.

He denied the offence but following a trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, he was found unanimously guilty of a single count of rape.

He returned to the same court this week where he was given a sentence totalling 15 years. That comprises of 10 years immediate custody – of which he will have to serve two thirds before being eligible of going before the Parole Board – and a further five years on extended licence. This was after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

In a statement to the court, the victim wrote: “This statement will be the first that I have articulated the extent of the trauma I was subjected to, though the impact that I endured can only be put into so many words.

“I have learnt that such an act of violation committed by an individual known to you - is a sense of betrayal that cuts deep. But really, you were a stranger to me all along - you desperately tried to be anyone other than yourself. To this exact day I still have fragmented memory of what you did to me that night. And while this concept may seem to be less traumatic, the unknowing manifested as self-destruction, tormenting myself with the possibility that I could have prevented it or protected myself from you.

“I am constantly questioning what I should have done differently that night, or second guessing why I didn’t pick up on anything strange or sinister. I couldn't protect myself that night, and it became something that significantly affected me. I remained silent in the depths of this darkness, suffering at my lowest all alone. Nevertheless, alone I walked into that courtroom confronting all this trauma, to speak my truth in pursuit of having you brought to justice - and I did exactly that.

“Therefore, I owe myself an apology - for blaming myself and internalising the guilt of the trauma I endured. I’m sorry to the girl whose pain I silenced because I felt so disgusted and ashamed to talk about how much the trauma consumed me.

“I could not imagine confiding in any one of the countless nights I would lay awake contemplating my life. Or the reoccurring nightmare where I find myself in the car with you. I am aware of what is going to happen, but I cannot seem to escape or defend myself from you. There are so many questions that remain unanswered, and I can’t help but wonder how long we were parked in the middle of nowhere while you took advantage of me as I laid unconscious. What exact twisted sense of satisfaction you felt - or if any sense of regret crept over you while I remained unresponsive during your self-serving sexual fantasy?

''What thoughts crossed your mind when you got home - did you toss and turn for a long while, unsettled by the sexual violation you inflicted upon me or fall sound asleep? All of this trauma has had its time with me - I give you my pain, and the burden of this now lies solely with you. In a strange way, I almost pity you – to be haunted by your own darkness – a darkness I know all too well, as it slowly begins to turn your conscious septic and contaminate your soul.”

DC Sam Holland, from the East Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Team, said: “Ibra presents a clear risk to women due to his abhorrent views and behaviours towards them. In this case, he isolated his victim, drugged her and then raped her. The following day he messaged her on Snapchat, as if everything was normal.

“The victim in this case has shown incredible strength in firstly coming forward to tell the police what Ibra had done to her, and then by giving evidence at court.

“I hope this conviction and sentence encourages other women to come forward if they have been the victim of a sexual crime, knowing they will be listened to, believed and that we will do everything in our power to put their abuser before the courts.”

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual offence report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101.