Man Sentenced For The Rape Of Woman In Worthing

(c) Sussex Police

A man has been sentenced for the rape of a woman in a car park in Worthing.

Suleman Mukaish, aged 27, targeted the vulnerable victim in Lyndhurst Road.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, received support from specially-trained officers. She reported the offence to a member of the public who then called police.

Mukaish was arrested at London Gatwick Airport two days after the offence having booked a one-way ticket to leave the country.

He was subsequently charged with rape, which he admitted in court on 13 April.

Mukaish, a Pakistani national who was studying in the UK, of Cambridge Road, Worthing, appeared for sentence at Hove Crown Court on 23 June where he was jailed for 11 years and three months.

The court was told how the incident happened at about 7.30pm on 11 March this year.

The victim was found by a witness returning to their vehicle, and informed the witness she had been raped.

“I could see she was in a bad way,” the witness said.

Police launched an investigation and witnesses came forward to report vital information.