Rape plot lawyer’s life sentence overturned

A BARRISTER who falsely accused her married lover of rape and then arranged to be stabbed in order to frame him has had her record jail sentence overturned.

Anisah Ahmed, 33, set out to destroy fellow lawyer Iqbal Mohammed’s life after discovering he was married. The couple met after she saw him in the BBC documentary The Barristers and they began an intimate relationship in 2014. But on discovering his marital status, she set about getting revenge.

Mr Mohammed later claimed he was left feeling like Michael Douglas’s character in the film Fatal Attraction.

Ahmed was jailed for life in April – an unprecedentedly severe sentence for perverting the course of justice. But yesterday, a panel of three Court of Appeal judges overturned the sentence – instead imposing a 10 year prison sentence and a lifelong restraining order.

Lord Justice Edis urged Ahmed to continue her good work in prison and seek help with her mental health upon her release.

Ahmed, who appeared over video link from HMP Eastwood Park, was so overcome with emotion she rose from her seat and walked out of shot when the judgment was pronounced.

The judge said: “The stakes are very high for you. They are not as high as they were, because you are no longer subject to a life sentence but they are high. If you commit further offences or breach any of those orders you will go to prison for a long time. Whether that happens or not is up to you.”

The barrister had been jailed for life after Judge Gledhill heard that she set up an “evil” campaign of lies, falsely claiming she was raped as well as staging her own kidnapping and stabbing.

The twisted plot began in 2014 when Ahmed found out Mohammed was married. Judge Gledhill said: “It appears that Ahmed had no idea that Mohammed was married. When she found out, she felt utterly betrayed and took her revenge by putting into effect a comprehensive and orchestrated plan to destroy him – both professionally and personally.”

He added: “As a barrister, Ahmed was well aware of the gravity of what she had done and the potential consequences to herself.

“The effect on Mr Mohammed can hardly be over-stated. He saw his career, livelihood and family life disintegrating before his eyes.”