Asylum Seeker Who Raped Girl, 15, Was Not Aware of ‘Cultural’ Differences, Claims His Lawyer

An Afghani asylum seeker who entered the UK illegally on a small boat kicked off in court after he was caged for raping a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Sadeq Nikzad, 29, who claimed he’d not been educated on ‘cultural differences’ repeatedly shouted ‘liar’ at judge John Morris, KC, after he was handed a 12-year extended sentence at Livingston High Court.

The judge hurriedly left the bench as the accused, screaming and gesticulating wildly, was handcuffed by security guards before being led to the cells.

Nikzad will serve nine years in custody followed by three years on licence, go on the sex offenders register and at the end of his sentence, be deported.

The court heard that Nikzad entered the UK illegally two years ago, before subjecting the vulnerable teenager to the terrifying opportunistic sex attack in Falkirk town centre in October 2023.

He was convicted of rape at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year after a jury heard how he approached the girl and asked for her phone number and if she had a boyfriend.

He then made sexual remarks towards the underage youngster before leading her to the rear of The Courtyard pub where he attacked and raped her.

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Nikzad’s defence counsel Janice Green told an earlier hearing that her client had not been educated about the significant cultural differences between the UK and Afghanistan.

Ms Green also said that the schoolgirl’s evidence about language difficulties between them and the fact she had not told the accused ‘No’ meant the offence was ‘not a typical stranger rape’.

She added: ‘There are no issues raised by him in relation to fear of persecution and the ultimate result is that he’ll be deported at the conclusion of his sentence.’

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