In 2025, the Offender Database reported that Riaz Muhammed, then 51, of Easton, and Muhammed Zahid, then 46, of St Philips, were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court. The two men were described by police as “calculating sexual predators” following their conviction for the rape of a vulnerable woman.
The court heard that the attack took place in 2019 at a Bristol guest house. Riaz Muhammed, who was working as a taxi driver at the time, collected the victim and drove her around the city before taking her to the guest house—a location already familiar to him. He paid for her room and subsequently arranged for his friend, Muhammed Zahid, to join him at the premises. While the victim was unconscious, the two men carried out a planned and sustained sexual assault.
Despite the traumatic nature of the ordeal and the length of time since the offence, the victim provided evidence that led to a unanimous guilty verdict following an eight-day trial. Investigating officers DC Laurence Castle and DC Saoirse Moore commended the victim’s “extraordinary resilience” and the jury’s recognition of the vital importance of consent.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Riaz Muhammed was sentenced to nine years in prison, and Muhammed Zahid was sentenced to eight years. Both men were informed they must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences in custody before becoming eligible for release on licence. They will also be subject to lifelong notification requirements on the sex offenders register.
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