In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Jowad Haji, then 24, an Iraqi national of Park Street, Coventry, West Midlands, was charged with several serious sexual offences, including rape. On Monday, 16 February 2026, Haji appeared at Coventry Magistrates’ Court following his arrest on Saturday, 14 February. The court reported that the charges stem from an incident at a shop on Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, which occurred on 31 January 2026.
The investigation established that the incident was reported to Warwickshire Police on 12 February. Following a rapid inquiry, Haji was identified and apprehended. He currently faces four specific charges: the rape of a woman aged 16 or over, the attempted rape of a woman aged 16 or over, sexual assault on a female, and intentional strangulation. Due to the severity of the allegations, he was remanded in custody to ensure public safety in Coventry and Stratford.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the alleged offences in Stratford, Warwickshire, involved a high degree of violence, as evidenced by the charge of intentional strangulation. Coventry Magistrates’ Court heard that the attack took place within a commercial premises on Chapel Street. The police reported that the delay between the incident on 31 January and the report on 12 February did not hinder the collection of forensic evidence, which led directly to the defendant’s arrest in Coventry.
The judge noted that because the charges involve rape and attempted rape, the case must be transferred to a higher court for trial. For his alleged actions in Stratford, Haji was remanded to appear next at Warwick Crown Court on 19 March 2026. The prosecution reported that the survivor is being supported by specialist officers as the legal proceedings against the Iraqi national proceed.
Statutory Requirements and Next Steps
For the charges brought in Warwickshire, the legal status of Jowad Haji is as follows:
- Current Status: Remanded in custody.
- Next Hearing: 19 March 2026 at Warwick Crown Court.
- Charges: Rape, Attempted Rape, Sexual Assault, and Intentional Strangulation.
- Judicial Oversight: Initial hearing at Coventry Magistrates’ Court.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Haji is currently being monitored by the prison service and Warwickshire Police while awaiting trial. Due to the “serious” nature of the allegations on Chapel Street, Stratford, his case is under the oversight of the Public Protection Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Should Haji be convicted, he will be subject to lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders Register and managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Coventry and Warwickshire area. Authorities state that the charge of intentional strangulation highlights the dangerous nature of the alleged encounter. Any further developments in the case will be updated following his appearance at Warwick Crown Court.
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