Rapist posed for photo on Darlington riverbank weeks before attacking woman at same spot

Abdel-Aziz Al-Shamary was described by a judge as having treated the victim as “less than human” and degraded and humiliated her.

The 21-year-old from Kuwait, who originally entered the UK illegally and was given leave to remain shortly before the Darlington attack, was also said to be “thrilled” by the idea of what he did, having stoked himself up watching outdoor sex porn on his mobile phone earlier in the day.

Following Al-Shamary’s conviction for rape last month, police discovered photographs on a Facebook account belonging to him taken in various locations around the town – including one of him on the banks of the River Skerne, near to St Cuthbert’s Way, just a few feet from the spot where he grabbed his victim in the early hours of May 17.

Detective Constable Richard Garrett, of Darlington CID, who investigated the case, said the photo found of Al-Shamary “doesn’t necessarily suggest that he was planning the attack there, but it does of course raise suspicion”.

• Attacker with hatred of women who described England as a 'bitch country'

Police during the investigation in Darlington town centre

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said the victim had been pestered by AlShamary for almost 20 minutes as she walked home from a night out at the Greyhound pub in nearby Parkgate. He said:

“There is no suggestion that during this time she wanted to be in the company of this defendant.”

The sometime pizza shop worker then punched his victim twice in the face, bloodying her nose, dragged her to the floor and raped her. Two women in a passing car, Rebecca Winn and Natalie Currie, saw the victim being pulled along by her feet and went to her aid, alerting police to the incident so the assailant could be swiftly arrested.

Ms Currie, from Darlington, who had been driving her friend home, said: “It was all quite traumatic at first – it’s a difficult thing to get your head around, but I’m getting there and I was only concerned that the victim was okay.”

Mr Abrahams said: “Were it not for their actions the police feel they would not have been able to detain this defendant and they deserve special commendation, having acted regardless of the danger to themselves.”

Al-Shamary, of Pensbury Street, Darlington, had spent his afternoon drinking, cosuming large volumes of Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker whisky before venturing out.

Following his arrest in nearby Parkgate he refused to be dealt with by a female police officer, saying he only spoke to men and described the UK as a “bitch country”, and then referred to himself as “Saddam Hussein”.

A DNA link was found to the victim in Al-Shamary’s boxer shorts, while CCTV tracked the pair’s movements.

Judge Sean Morris jailed AlShamary for 12 years, expressing the hope he would be deported after serving half the term.

Al-Shamary said he had a sheltered upbringing in a Bedouin family with very little contact with females and was determined to have sex with the woman, whether she wanted to or not.

He said: “You were full of intent and were going to have your way with her.

“You chose your moment and decided it was time to strike, punching her in order to incapacitate her and terrify her into submission.

“Upon completing your crime you then told her you would kill her if she reported it.

“This was a vulnerable lady who you targeted and treated as less than human.”

The judge said Al-Shamary had been convicted on “powerfully convincing and palpably honest evidence” from his victim.

He said: “The idea of having sex outdoors thrilled you, as can be seen from your pornographic downloads on your phone.”

He put the defendant on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, adding: “It is quite clear to me you have a problem with females and you regard them as lesser beings, as evidenced by your behaviour to the female police officer.

“I am of the view that this was as much about degradation and humiliation as about sexual pleasure.”

John Turner, mitigating, said Al-Shamary maintained his innocence and also stated there was no evidence he had pestered the victim. He said the Kuwaiti, who denied rape but admitted assault, did have family to return to in the Middle East, but would face an uncertain future. In a victim impact statement, the woman said every night she thought about what happened to her.

She said: “It makes me very upset and I want to cry.

“Every time when I go to bed I can still see the image of my attacker’s face in my mind and that upsets me.

“I cannot get the thought of being with this man off my mind and it makes me feel very unclean.”

Speaking after the sentence, DC Garrett said: “We are very pleased for the victim who has shown great bravery, particularly to be in court today.

“Now she can move forward knowing that this man is starting a lengthy jail sentence.

“Stranger rapes are a rarity, but thankfully [Al-Shamary] is now in custody as there is no place for him in a decent society.

“We will seek with the assistance of the Home Office to ensure that he is deported back to his home country."