‘The pain makes me want to die’

PAIR OF STRANGERS RAPED WOMAN

A MUM raped by two strangers during a horrific ordeal at accommodation for asylum seekers said the pain of the attack “makes me want to die”.

Saheed Rasoolli, 30, and Araz Abdulla, 23, each took a turn to attack their victim in the bedroom of a flat in Sunderland, after she was lured there from a bus stop.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim “couldn’t get her breath” during the rape ordeals and she was left with nail marks to her neck, throat and arms.

Rasoolli, who has now been jailed for 12 years, and Abdulla, who has been jailed for 10, both denied rape but were convicted by a jury earlier this month.

In a victim impact statement, the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “I was raped by two men I did not know and since that day my life has changed.

“I am not the same person. I try to do nice things and laugh but I no longer enjoy life.

“I cannot go out in public anymore, I feel frightened and nervous. I am scared something will happen to me or someone will hurt me.”

The woman said she now struggles to even take her children to the park and has been prescribed medication from her doctor to try and banish the negative thoughts she has become plagued with.

She added: “I constantly think about the two men and what they did to me. I can’t describe the pain I feel.”

The woman said she made a serious attempt to take her own life and has “never felt like this before”.

She added: “The pain I feel, following being raped, makes me want to die. It overpowers me.

“I can’t stop the feelings. I wish I could forget what they have done to me, I wish it hadn’t happened.

“I try every day to block it out but nothing stops the thoughts.

“My whole life has changed as a direct result of that day and what those two men did to me. They violated and abused me.”

The Home Office will be informed of their convictions and sentences so the status in the UK of the two men can be considered.

Judge Stephen Earl said Rasooli and Abdulla, who are from Iran and Iraq respectively, must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Prosecutor Paul Abrahams told the court during the trial the woman, who had been waiting for a bus in the city in May, when she was approached by Rasoolli, who had “decided at this early stage he was going to have sex with this female, whatever her views”.

Mr Abrahams said the victim was taken by Rasoolli to a “multioccupancy building, containing a number of flats occupied by asylum seekers” and into Abdulla’s bedroom, who left the room.

He told jurors: “Rasoolli, without warning pushed her on the bed.”

Mr Abrahams said Rasoolli had sex with the woman and added: “She told him to stop and tried to push him off, she made it clear she didn’t want to have any kind of sexual activity but despite her attempts, he ignored her and continued to force himself on her.”

The court heard when Rasoolli had finished with the victim he left the room, Abdulla returned and took his turn to rape the woman.

The court heard when Abdulla finished with the woman he left the room and she was able to get away.

Dan Cordey, defending Rasoolli, of Hylton Road, Sunderland, said the meeting at the bus stop had been by “chance” and that the attack was not planned. Mr Cordey said Rasoolli just wants a “safe and decent life”.

Liam O’Brien, defending Abdulla, of Roker Avenue, Sunderland, said: “He still maintains he is an innocent man”.

Mr O’Brien said Abudlla’s family were targeted by ISIS in his homeland.

My whole life has changed as a direct result of that day and what those two men did to me.