Serial rapist is jailed for life

Feb 2 2007 By Ross Mccarthy, Birmingham Mail

A SERIAL rapist who carried out "reign of terror" against prostitutes in a Birmingham suburb has been jailed for life.

Faisal Khan preyed on his vulnerable victims over a four month period, leaving them terrified for their lives, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Khan, 25, of Swanage Road, Small Heath, had previously been found guilty following a nine-day trial last year of six rapes, attempted rape, sexual assault and robbery.

Recorder Yvonne Coen QC said: "Between September and December 2005 you carried out what is rightly described as a campaign of violent sexual offences against prostitutes who were working in the Small Heath area of Birmingham.

"You were driven by your deep-seated hatred of and contempt for prostitutes.

"Your reign of terror lasted as long as it did because of the natural reluctance of the victims to come forward."

The judge said the "vulnerable" women all lived a miserable and chaotic lifestyle through their addiction to hard drugs. But eventually each one did come forward and each gave a chilling and compelling account of the terrifying ordeals that you put them through.

"Each of the complainants was a slight woman. She was working alone, at night and you knew the places to go to so that you could be alone and do what you wanted to them without being disturbed.

"They were only prepared to go with you because they were desperate for business to feed their drugs habits."

The judge said there were three victims and that Khan had attacked one of them twice.

She said: "In each case you grabbed your victim by the throat and squeezed hard, causing them to either loose consciousness for a period or being on the point of doing so."

She said with two of the women he threatened to use a knife and he threatened the other with a brick.

The judge said: "In all the cases these women feared for their lives because of what you were doing to them."

Kevin Grego, defending, told the judge that Khan suffered from a mental illness which would have had some impact on his actions.