Rahim Ghasemi Jailed for Rape of 71-Year-Old Woman in Essex Lay-By

BASILDON CROWN COURT — A 40-year-old kebab shop worker who subjected a 71-year-old woman to a humiliating and degrading sexual assault at the side of a busy Essex road has been jailed for over nine years and faces automatic deportation from the UK.

Rahim Ghasemi, an Iranian national who arrived in the UK in 2008, appeared in the secure dock at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, August 3, flanked by security officers.

Following a trial earlier this year, a jury convicted him of rape and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard that the attack took place in February of last year. The victim, who retains lifelong anonymity, was in Chelmsford at approximately 11:00 pm when she encountered Ghasemi inside a kebab shop where he worked.

Ghasemi invited the woman inside, cooked food for her, and subsequently offered to drive her home to Basildon, where they both resided.

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However, before leaving, Ghasemi instructed the woman to wait at a bus stop 20 to 30 metres away from the takeaway.

The prosecution stated this was because he "did not want to be seen" with her by individuals in neighbouring shops.

While driving along the A130 towards Basildon, Ghasemi forced the woman’s hand onto his penis.

When she objected and removed her hand, he pulled the vehicle into a rural lay-by described as being "in the middle of nowhere."

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Ghasemi then ordered the woman into the back of his car, where he used a torch in a manner described as humiliating and degrading, before proceeding to rape her.

Following the sexual assault, Ghasemi drove the victim to a service station in Pitsea. Under the guise of needing to refuel, he told her to get out of the vehicle and immediately drove away, leaving her stranded.

Fortunately, a bus was stopped nearby, which the victim was able to board to reach Basildon and dial 999 to report the rape.

The court was told that Ghasemi returned to his home address at approximately 11:50 pm and proceeded to watch online pornography until around 2:10 am.

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Digital forensic analysis also revealed he had visited escort and pornographic websites earlier that same day. He was arrested later that afternoon.

During his trial, Ghasemi denied the charges, falsely claiming to the jury that the elderly woman had sold him sex for £50.

Prosecutor Richard Potts read a moving victim impact statement to the court detailing the severe psychological toll the attack has taken on the survivor, who is now 73.

Mr Potts detailed that the victim now suffers from ongoing fears and regularly "wakes up screaming."

Reading her words to the court, Mr Potts stated: "I go to London more often now as I feel safer there than Basildon. In Basildon I feel like I’m looking over my shoulder.

In London I can walk around more freely whereas in Basildon I feel that someone might be following me.

I’m embarrassed and my mind wanders off. My friends have noticed changes and a difference with me. I used to be outgoing and bubbly."

Passing sentence, His Honour Judge Collery KC fiercely condemned Ghasemi’s actions and the devastating impact they have had on the victim.

"I don’t know why aged 39 you chose to do this. It was a dreadful thing to do," Judge Collery KC stated.

"It has had significant and pretty dire consequences for this woman and you know you should be pretty ashamed of yourself."

Addressing the calculated nature of the isolation, the judge added: "She had trusted you to give her a lift home.

You instead drove her to a remote lay-by where she knew she could scream as much as she would want but no-one would hear.

This was a wicked thing to do to an elderly lady who had done nothing to warrant such treatment."Ghasemi was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison.

Under standard sentencing guidelines, he will serve approximately two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being transferred to an immigration detention centre to face immediate automatic deportation back to Iran.