In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Ubaid Rahman, then 22, of Bruce Street, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to five years in prison at Grimsby Crown Court. Rahman, who was training to be an Imam and was widely regarded as a “devout and deeply religious” member of the community, was convicted of sexual assault and assault by penetration. The investigation by Humberside Police revealed that he utilised his position of “serious” trust to target a young girl, carrying out “vile” and “predatory” attacks that the court heard were “completely out of character” according to his supporters.
The court heard horrendous details of the abuse, which took place while the girl was in his care. Rahman lured the victim into a toilet by pretending to play a game, where he made her stand on the seat before carrying out a “vicious” sexual assault. He also targeted the girl while she was playing on a swing, showing a serious and “depraved” disregard for her innocence. Recorder Richard Woolfall reported that the girl’s parents had “no idea what was going on” because they fully trusted the dangerous predator due to his religious standing in Scunthorpe.
During the trial, Ubaid Rahman was reported to have told “significant lies” in a “vile” attempt to cover up his crimes. Despite his claims of remorse and the submission of over 20 character references, the jury found him guilty of the serious charges. His defence barrister, Sean Smith, argued that the prison environment was “alien” and a “terror situation” for Rahman, who had been bullied while on remand. However, the judge emphasised that the serious breach of trust and the “horrific” nature of the attacks on a young child necessitated an immediate five-year custodial sentence.
As a result of his conviction for sexual assault and assault by penetration, Ubaid Rahman was jailed for five years and will serve an additional year on extended licence. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Humberside Police, ensuring he remains under intensive supervision. Any further predatory behaviour or presence in religious settings in Scunthorpe, Grimsby, or elsewhere will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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