Rapist gets eight years (From Leigh Journal)
Send us news by text, start your message Leigh News and your send photos and videos to 80360
Illegal immigrant jailed for Leigh town centre rape
9:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News
AN ILLEGAL immigrant, who raped a terrified young woman in a deserted narrow town centre side street has been jailed for eight years.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the victim, who had gone out with friends to celebrate her 26th birthday, had feared she was going to die during the attack.
The young mum is now afraid of going out alone, even shopping, her relationship with her partner has been affected and she has been prescribed anti-depressants and counselling.
Jailing Majid Mullaaga today Judge Graham Morrow, QC, said, "I am sure you were looking for a woman to have sex with that night."
He said he was not sure Mullaaga, who had been hanging around Leigh town centre for half an hour, had targeted the young woman and ran after her and raped her in Hilden Street opposite the George and Dragon pub in King Street.
"You knew she was likely to be under the influence of alcohol, you tried to buy sex from her but when she refused you forced yourself on her. You grabbed her from behind and put your hand over her mouth when she tried to scream," he said.
Robert Golinski, prosecuting, said the victim feared for her life and did not struggle but her screaming alerted a passer-by. Mullaaga had relaxed his grip slightly and she managed to escape and run to the passer-by in tears.
Mullaaga, of Manley Park, Leigh, denied raping the woman in the early hours of July 31 last year but was convicted after a week long trial.
Judge Morrow ordered Mullaaga, who has no previous convictions, to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He did not order his deportation as the length of the sentence means he will be automatically deported after his sentence.
