Man jailed for Southampton rape

A man has been jailed for 10 years for the rape of a teenage girl in Southampton.

Ismail Mahmood, 20, currently residing in HMP Winchester, was sentenced today (19 December) at Southampton Crown Court for the offence, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, 17 April this year.

Mahmood approached the victim in the city centre, and offered her a lift home in his car.

But before dropping her at her home address, he raped her in the back of the vehicle.

The incident was reported to us by the girl’s family on Monday, April 18 and since then she has been supported by specialist officers.

Mahmood had previously been issued a six-month Community Protection Notice by officers on 3^rd January not to engage with females he did not know and was in breach of this notice.

Mahmood was given a 10-year prison sentence and will spend a further five years on licence due to the seriousness of the crime.

DC Daniel Cooke is from Operation Amberstone, Hampshire Constabulary’s team dedicated to investigating rape and serious sexual assaults, and was the officer in the case.

He said: “Mahmood preyed on teenager when she was vulnerable and it has had a devastating impact on her ever since.

“This dangerous predator is now behind bars where he cannot hurt anyone else in our community, and I would like to commend the victim for her bravery throughout the investigation.

“I hope this sentence shows how seriously we take violence against women and girls, using all the powers at our disposal from issuing Community Protection Notices to disrupt behaviour at the earliest opportunity, to relentlessly pursuing offenders and making sure they face justice when a crime has been committed.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, please report it to us as soon as you can so we can make sure you are safe – but no matter when it took place, we will take you seriously and treat you with respect.”

If you are not ready to talk to the police just yet, there are a range of places to get support, advice and medical help.

You can speak to a number of organisations in confidence and what you tell them will not be shared with the police unless you ask for it to be.

For more information, follow this link: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/