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 vunerable teenager to the terrifying oportunistic 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.
The girl said that she froze during the assault while a woman who came across the victim shortly after said she had been ‘in a daze’.
The witness said: ‘She looked stunned. I knew something had gone wrong. She came to me for comfort. She said she kept telling the guy she was only 15.’
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.’
Passing sentence, judge Morris told the accused through an interpreter: ‘You’ve been convicted of an extremely serious sexual offence against a child, and I know your counsel has
now explained to you that in those circumstances only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate.’
As he informed Nikzad that his name would also be placed on the sex offenders register, he lost his temper and started waving his arms in the air and shouting at his interpreter and the judge.
After sentencing, Katrina Parkes, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: ‘This was an appalling, opportunistic attack on a young girl who should have been safe going about her daily business.’
She added: ‘I hope this prosecution sends a clear message to men who commit serious acts of sexual violence against women and children.’
Detective Inspector Forbes Wilson, from the Forth Valley Public Protection Unit, said: ‘Nikzad’s heinous actions had a profound effect on his young victim and I would like to commend her strength throughout this ordeal.’
