A British male, Fawzi Omar, the Exeter Rapist, has been sentenced to four years in prison, followed by an additional four years on extended license, for the sexual assault of a woman in Exeter City Centre.
Fawzi Omar, 27, was jailed at Exeter Crown Court on November 22 after admitting to sexual assault.
The court was informed that Omar, a Sudanese national without a permanent residence, selected the victim, an unfamiliar individual, when she was walking home in the early hours of Wednesday, May 8.
Fawzi Omar confronted the woman, seized her, and continued to sexually abuse her despite her explicit refusal.
CCTV operatives in the city centre were notified after the report and confirmed that the incident was recorded on surveillance footage.
A description of the suspect was passed over the radio and the suspect was tracked across the city by Exeter city centre CCTV operators until the suspect went out of frame and was no longer identifiable.
Officers continued searching the area, but there was no trace of Omar, who at the time hadn’t yet been identified.
Fawzi Omar’s image was circulated, then, at 1.25am on Tuesday June 11, an Exeter city centre CCTV operator identified a male matching the description of the suspect.
An officer attended South Street Exeter and arrested Omar on suspicion of sexual assault.
Detective inspector Paula Trevett said: “We are happy that Fawzi Omar is now behind bars for a horrific attack carried out on a complete stranger.
“We’d like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case for helping ensure Fawzi Omar was brought to justice.
“This is another example of outstanding work carried out by Exeter officers – response, neighbourhood, CCTV and CID.
“Fawzi Omar was previously unknown to police and remained at large for four weeks after the offence. It was thanks to the diligent work of one of the city centre CCTV operatives who recognised him one night when he was walking around Exeter City Centre, that Omar was arrested.
“He was wearing the same clothing and had a distinctive walk.
“Omar was arrested and denied the offence however forensics were fast-tracked and a Magistrates’ extension was sought whilst we awaited the results. Omar’s DNA came back as an exact match with the swabs taken from the victim.
“This example of fantastic teamwork demonstrates the drive we all have to make the streets of Exeter safer for women and girls.”
There is no mention of deportation.
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