Banbury predator jailed for brutal park rape of teen

Shocking Banbury crime: Teen’s birthday celebration turns nightmare as predator lures her to park for heinous assault. Justice served with 6-year sentence. Faris Bashir Mohammed Suleiman, a 19-year-old resident of Windrush, Banbury, has been jailed for six years in prison with an additional four-year extended licence at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, October 24, 2025, for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in People’s Park, Banbury. Suleiman, who fled civil war as a child and arrived in the UK uncertain of his family’s fate, denied the offences during six-day trial that resulted in a jury finding him guilty by a 10-to-1 majority verdict on September 22, 2025, for one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over.

On March 30, 2025, between 3:00 a.m. and 3:20 a.m., Suleiman met the victim at Zinc nightclub in Banbury town centre, where she was celebrating her 18th birthday. After dancing together, he lured her away under the pretense of going for a walk, stopping at a shop to buy her a vape. He then led her to a secluded area of People’s Park, where he anally raped her despite her pleas. The victim, gripped by fear, returned with Suleiman to the town centre, where she found her friends, broke down, and disclosed the assault. Police were promptly notified, and officers stopped Suleiman, who matched the victim’s description of her attacker. He was charged the following day, March 31, 2025, and remanded in custody.

The victim, who is openly gay and in a relationship, delivered a powerful victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing. She described the profound trauma of the assault, stating, “I went out to celebrate my 18th birthday. It should have been filled with excitement. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Every birthday will be a constant reminder of what happened.” She detailed the invasive forensic medical examination that followed, describing it as the most vulnerable moment of her life, and the fear of contracting HIV, which required her to take medication. The assault, she explained, violated her identity and sexual orientation, as she had no desire for sexual contact with a man. She continues to struggle with mental health, numbness, and difficulties socializing at university, yet expressed resilience, saying, “I’m thankful to everyone who believed me. I want to empower others and stand up for what is right.”

Prosecuting barrister Edward Lucas described the attack as a “ruthless and calculated exploitation” of the victim, emphasizing that Suleiman “poses a high risk of causing serious harm to the public.” Judge Ian Pringle KC, addressing Suleiman directly, stated, “You led her to People’s Park in Banbury where you began to assault her and sexually assault her. You pose a serious risk of causing significant harm to groups of people, especially women.”

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