Man jailed for rape

Guilty - Babar Ali, aka Zakir Mir

A man who raped a woman after she was enticed to a Rochdale flat has today been jailed.

Babar Ali, aka Zakir Mir, born 05/05/1969, of Rathbone Street, Rochdale pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court to an offence of rape.

He was today, 27 September 2012, sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and signed the sex offenders register for life.

On the night of Thursday 22 March 2012, the 16-year-old victim was with a friend in Oldham town centre when her companion received a call from a man she knew, inviting them for a few drinks at a Rochdale flat.

The pair caught a taxi into Rochdale and were dropped off on Oldham Road, near a takeaway called Big Chef.

They were met by two men and were taken up to a flat at the back of the takeaway where they were given alcohol.

A short time later the victim was taken to an adjacent room where she was raped by Ali.

The victim and her friend later left the flat and she called the police the following day.

Detective Constable Michael Berger, of Rochdale CID, said: "This young victim was subjected to horrific and prolonged ordeal at the hands of Ali.

"The victim and her friend were persuaded to come to the flat, but once there, Ali demonstrated truly predatory behaviour.

"The victim was quite rightly left deeply traumatised, but she had the courage to contact the police the next day and she put her trust in us to investigate this.

"Without the victim there would not have been a case against Ali so we must pay tribute to her bravery."

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

- If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary⿿s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.

- St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.

- Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.

- Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. Contact 07919 246 267.