🔴 Iranian Asylum Seeker Jailed for Cheltenham Sex Assault Horror

Abdolrahman Banafsha, 19 at the time of the attack on 31 August 2024, targeted the lone teenager as she walked home from a night out in the early hours.

He followed her after initially passing by, then seized her arm when she fell in a side street and escorted her to the address where he was staying.

The court heard how Banafsha ignored her pleas that she had a boyfriend and needed to go home, tightening his grip as she tried to pull away.

Inside the property, after the victim used the bathroom and attempted to plan an escape, he pushed her to the ground and committed two sexual assaults.

One involved touching her breasts under her clothing; the second, touching her between the legs over clothing.

She screamed, kicked him off and fled the address while still screaming, captured on CCTV as she ran for safety.

Banafsha was arrested later that day by Gloucestershire Constabulary and has remained in custody since.

Charged initially with attempted rape, his trial began on 22 September this year.

CCTV footage and the victim’s police video interview were played on the first day.

He pleaded guilty the following day to two counts of sexual assault, pleas accepted by the Crown, victim and police.

Sentencing on Wednesday 5 November, His Honour Judge Julian Lambert described the ordeal as “utterly terrifying” with “profound” victim impact.

The judge noted an “element of predatory” behaviour in Banafsha’s stalking of the streets and persistence with the victim.

He sentenced him to 27 months in a young offender’s institution for both counts, to run concurrently.

Banafsha will also be on the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years and must notify police of his address during that period.

A victim personal statement read to the court detailed her ongoing trauma.

She said she had to prepare for “the worst possible scenario” and still could not breathe from fear during the assault.

The strength from that fear enabled her to fight back and escape.

She has since changed her entire life: stopping nights out, only socialising with her boyfriend, drinking solely at home, dyeing her hair, joining a gym and getting more tattoos to avoid resembling the girl Banafsha assaulted.

She told the court she would remember his face for life but refused to let him define her.

Probation assessed Banafsha as a high risk of harm to the public, particularly females.

In mitigation, defence counsel said he changed his plea after re-watching the CCTV, adding it was a pity the victim did not alert pub staff when she asked to use their toilets while Banafsha held her arm.

The court heard Banafsha arrived in the UK by small boat in March 2024, claiming his life was at risk in Iran.

He lived in Home Office accommodation outside Gloucestershire and had travelled to Cheltenham for the weekend to stay with a friend.

Judge Lambert acknowledged the guilty plea spared the complainant cross-examination but stressed she had endured a great deal on the night and while awaiting trial.

Detective Constable Helen Goode, investigating officer, said Banafsha denied wrongdoing until confronted with evidence in court, including footage of the victim fleeing in fear.

She praised the victim’s bravery throughout the process.

DC Goode noted the victim spoke to pub staff while Banafsha held her arm, asking to use the toilets.

She urged night-time economy workers to watch for perpetrator behaviour, even if victims cannot openly seek help via schemes such as Ask for Angela.

Gloucestershire Constabulary runs Project Vigilant, deploying plain-clothed officers trained in behavioural detection to intercept predatory conduct before offences occur.

The initiative, piloted by Thames Valley Police, targets actions often displayed prior to sexual crimes.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed any foreign national convicted and receiving a custodial sentence of 12 months or more is referred for deportation under the UK Borders Act 2007.