Asylum Seeker Rape Sentence
Sheraz Malik, Asylum Seeker, Jailed 14 Years for Brutal Park Rape Attack
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During the attack, Malik made a pointed taunt that prosecutors described as part of the abuse: he asked the woman, “Did you enjoy that?” The reporting also says the victim shouted “no, no, no” as she was being attacked, and that in court she testified: “I was scared, I felt scared of saying no.”
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The earlier immigration-related reporting restriction was imposed to avoid a specific legal harm: Judge Nirmal Shant KC explained it was to prevent any “substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice” until the trial concluded.
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Jurors heard that the victim tried to reach out for help during the assault—she “begged a friend via text to ‘please help me’” as she was being preyed upon by the men in the park.
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Malik’s denial included a claim about his behaviour in the park: during trial the court heard he said he was “playing cricket” and “smoking cannabis” before the attack, and he denied hitting the woman; prosecutors countered that he “physically struck her while raping her” in the secluded spot.
A Pakistan-born asylum seeker has been jailed for 14 years after raping a drunk and vulnerable 18-year-old woman twice in a Nottinghamshire park. Judge Simon Ash KC sentenced Sheraz Malik, 28, at Birmingham Crown Court on June 11, 2026, to a 10-year custodial term plus four years on extended licence, telling him he showed "hostility and anger" toward his victim rather than any remorse. Nottingham Post reported that Malik is expected to be deported once his sentence is served.
The attack happened on June 29, 2025, at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield. A friend had asked Malik's group to "look after" the woman while he briefly stepped away. Instead, Malik and an associate raped her in a secluded area. A second suspect — described as an Afghan national — remains at large and is believed to have fled the country, according to LBC.
Victim Shouted 'No' While Attacker Asked If She Enjoyed It
The court heard harrowing details of the attack. The victim shouted "no, no, no" as she was assaulted. She later told the jury: "I was scared, I felt scared of saying no." During the rape, Malik taunted her by asking, "Did you enjoy that?" Prosecutors said he also "physically struck her" in the secluded spot, directly contradicting his claim that the sex was consensual, according to Birmingham Live.
The woman tried desperately to get help. She sent a text to a friend begging, "please help me," as the attack was happening, Nottingham Post reported. Malik denied everything at trial. He claimed he had spent the evening "playing cricket" and "smoking cannabis" in the park and said he never hit her. The jury rejected his account and returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two counts of rape after roughly three hours of deliberations.
Trial Moved to Birmingham After Reporting Restriction Collapsed
In September 2025, Judge Nirmal Shant KC placed a reporting restriction on the case. It banned any mention of Malik's immigration status before trial. The judge said publishing that detail risked a "substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice." Restrictions like this are standard in UK courts to stop juries being influenced by information unrelated to the crime itself, The Spectator explained.
The restriction broke down after Reform UK MP Lee Anderson publicly named Malik as an asylum seeker. Anderson later said: "The public deserved the truth... it's obvious that the police and the whole judiciary were very reluctant to allow the public the true identity of this vile creature." The resulting publicity made a fair local trial impossible. The case was moved from Nottingham to Birmingham Crown Court — a rare step that legal observers said showed how severely outside commentary had compromised proceedings, according to LBC.
Malik Showed No Remorse Even After Conviction
After the January 26 verdict, a probation officer tried to prepare a pre-sentence report. Malik refused to cooperate. He was described as "shouting and swearing" at the officer and continued to deny all charges, according to ITV News. Judge Ash KC said Malik had "distorted thinking" about consent and posed a significant danger. The extended licence period — four years on top of the 10-year prison term — reflects how UK courts manage risk after release.
Malik had been living in Bath Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, at the time of the attack. He received a £50 weekly stipend from the Home Office while in temporary accommodation, The Spectator reported. He had traveled through Italy, Germany, and France before arriving in the UK. Upon completing his sentence, he faces deportation to Pakistan, though that will depend on Home Office assessments and any future legal appeals, according to Nottingham Post.
Second Attacker Still Sought as Police Warn Search Is a Priority
A second man raped the woman before Malik did. Police identified him as an Afghan national and believe he has fled the UK. Nottinghamshire Police Detective Inspector Nicole Milner said finding this suspect remains a "priority." His flight abroad means the victim has not seen full justice for the first assault she endured that night, according to LBC.
Police praised the victim's "courage and resilience" throughout the investigation and trial. Investigators say multiple lines of enquiry are still active. The case has sparked a wider policy debate about how asylum seekers are housed and vetted by the Home Office. It is widely expected to be raised in Parliament by Reform UK and other opposition parties, according to Nottingham Post.
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