Ex-student guilty over sex attacks
Reporter A FORMER Northumbria University student who plied vulnerable women with drugs and alcohol has been found guilty of rape.
As a 20-year-old student, Omar Sharif arranged a number of drink and drug-fuelled parties at properties across Sunderland.
Sharif, who drove a Mercedes sports car with a personalised plate, would arrange for young women to be used as “entertainment” at the parties, which he had organised for clients of his drug dealing business, it was said at Newcastle Crown Court.
It was at these parties that Sharif, of Brunton Terrace, Sunderland, sexually abused three women, aged between 17 and 19.
During a trial, prosecutor Gavin Doig said Sharif felt “untouchable” and treated his victims with complete disrespect because they feared him.
He said: “Omar Sharif is a drug dealer. He has admitted multiple counts linked to drug dealing. He is perhaps reckless, not an unintelligent man but a person who learns from his mistakes. He is devious, not a panicker. We know he is a liar too.”
Mr Doig told the jury that Sharif had lied “on an industrial scale” during the trial and relied on “fresh lies Omar Sharif, 23, inset, has been found guilty of rape at Newcastle Crown Court told with sufficient bravado” in an attempt to fool the jury.
Sharif, now 23, whose uncle Tipu Sultan was murdered at his takeaway shop in South Shields, previously admitted drugs charges but denied allegations of sexual abuse between October 2015 and July 2016.
But, on Friday, he was found guilty of four charges of rape against three victims and one count of sexual assault, as well as three counts of supplying Class A drugs and one charge of trying to conceal £2,000. In addition, he pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs, two counts of possession of drugs, one of supplying drugs, three counts of perverting the course of justice, and perjury.
The charge of perjury was brought after an initial trial against Sharif collapsed last year.
He was, however, found not guilty of two counts of rape.
A number of others also faced charges as part of Operation Argon, the investigation into Sharif’s parties. Sharif’s brother Amer, 20, of Brunton Terrace, Sunderland, was found guil- ty of perverting the course of justice after he helped to try to coerce a woman into making a false statement about one of the victims.
Georgi Karaboykov, 35, of New Pallion Rd, Sunderland, and Luke Richardson, 21, of Ryhope Street South, Sunderland, were found not guilty of rape and sexual assault. And Milagros Simona Sanchez, 25, of Chester Road, Sunderland, was found not guilty of facilitating sexual exploitation.
Sentencing will take place at Newcastle Crown Court on December 6.
Sharif was remanded in custody.