Iraqi Rapist Nearly 'Slashed Man's Face Off'

A case of cultural enrichment from Nottingham which makes one proud to live in such a diverse and vibrant country:

A TEENAGER who raped a 15-year-old girl, head-butted his ex-girlfriend and slashed a man's face will be locked up and eventually deported.

Alan Elyasi, 18, injured the man so seriously that it appeared "almost as if the front of his face was cut off", Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Judge Sean Morris said Elyasi's consecutive custodial sentences, adding up to ten years and four months, would have been longer were it not a waste of taxpayers' money– he will be automatically sent back to Iraq on his release.

Judge Morris described him as a "predatory young male".

Elyasi, of no fixed address, denied the rape, forcing his victim to give evidence.

The judge said it must have been traumatic for her to face in court a jury, judge and counsel.

"I have considered imprisonment for public protection in your case but I understand that deportation proceedings are to commence and you are to be sent back to Iraq at the conclusion of your sentence," he said.

"I, therefore, do not see why the British taxpayer should be put to the extra expense of that kind of sentence when we will be rid of you upon your release."

The girl Elyasi head-butted was his former girlfriend. Judge Morris described the act as "the mark of a coward".

On the same day, Elyasi challenged her new boyfriend to a "contest", which the other man declined, the court heard.

Elyasi produced a knife and repeatedly struck out at the man.

The most serious of several cuts was 15cm long and was so deep that part of the internal structure of the face was visible. The man also had cuts to his left hand, left thigh and upper chest.

The man slashed by Elyasi has been left with scars and movement in his face is affected.

"Attacking a man with a knife is again the mark of a coward," Judge Morris said.

"He was unarmed. You haven't the guts to take out your anger in any other way than a cowardly way."

Elyasi, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, denied even being present during the attack in Cope Street, Hyson Green.

He was, however, found guilty of section 18 wounding with intent.

The girl he raped had gone back to a Radford house with him, his male friend and her female friend, on March 27, 2008.

Elyasi followed her to the bathroom and raped her on the floor.

With no previous convictions and in custody since his arrest in September, Elyasi tried to swallow a razor blade after he was convicted. Because of that, the probation service is, the court heard, worried about how he will cope with a long period in custody.