A 25-year-old Afghan migrant received a 10-year prison sentence for raping a vulnerable, intoxicated woman in the early hours of July 12, 2022.
Details of the Attack
The woman had been asked to leave a nightclub by bouncers due to excessive intoxication. As she tried to phone her girlfriend, Musafar Hotak, then 22, began following her. A voicemail on her phone captured her urgently telling him to stop, according to evidence presented at Southampton Crown Court.
The victim later recalled waking up in Hotak’s home with him on top of her, sexually assaulting and then raping her. She repeatedly pleaded for him to stop but could not resist due to his overwhelming force.
After escaping, she immediately alerted authorities. Forensic analysis matched DNA from an intimate swab to Hotak, securing his conviction.
Victim’s Impact Statement
In her personal statement to the court, the victim described living in constant fear since the assault. She explained that it scarred every aspect of her life, leading to self-harm and a suicide attempt.
“What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible,” she said. “I didn’t just feel violated, I felt erased. Since that day I have lived in fear, shame, silence and unbearable pain that I can’t fully describe. I was left feeling broken and empty and terrified of the world around me.”
Sentencing and Judge’s Remarks
Judge Gary Lucie imposed a 10-year custodial sentence on Hotak, plus a four-year extended licence period. He also issued an indefinite restraining order barring contact with the victim and required lifelong registration on the sex offenders’ register.
Addressing Hotak through a Pashtu interpreter, the judge stated: “You took advantage of the victim who was very drunk. It is obvious your offending has had a severe psychological impact on her which will probably remain with her for the rest of her life.”
The judge noted that the Home Office would review Hotak’s case for potential deportation. He commended the victim’s bravery: “I want to pay tribute to her for her bravery in coming forward and going through what must have been a very difficult time for her.”
Prosecution and Government Response
Elizabeth Medland from the Crown Prosecution Service described the incident as “a terrifying and traumatic attack on a young woman who was only trying to get home safely after a night out with friends.”
She added: “Musafar Hotak exploited her, ignored her protests, and violated her when she was unable to protect herself. My thoughts are with the victim in this case, whose powerful witness testimony was instrumental in securing a conviction.”
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed: “All foreign national offenders who receive a prison sentence of over 12 months are automatically referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from returning to the UK. We will not tolerate foreign criminals committing crimes in the UK and that is why we are scaling up their deportations.”
