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An Afghan asylum seeker who raped a 17-year-old girl in a public park has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Rapualla Ahmadze, believed to be 21, carried out the attack in Cooper Park, Elgin, Moray, in August last year. He had denied rape, claiming the sex was consensual, but was unanimously found guilty by a jury.
Sentencing Ahmadze at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Thomas Welsh KC described the assault as “shocking and violent”.
‘Predatory’ attack
The court heard that Ahmadze approached the teenager in the early hours of the morning, making what were described as intimidating remarks before carrying out the assault on rough ground in the park.
Ahmadze told the court he was out at the time because he was hungry and searching for food.
He was convicted of rape and a separate charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.
There was some dispute over his age, but the court was told he would have been about 20 years old at the time of the attack.
Background claims
Defence counsel Shaun Alexander said Ahmadze was born in Afghanistan and claimed he had been conscripted into the Afghan national army as a young teenager by his uncle.
He told the court that Ahmadze was later captured by the Taliban after they seized control of the country and was imprisoned, before escaping with other inmates. During the escape, he was allegedly shot in the arm.
Mr Alexander said Ahmadze then made “a long and arduous journey” to the UK, arriving in 2023 with no family, friends or support network.
While acknowledging that a prison sentence was inevitable, the defence said Ahmadze now faced deportation to Afghanistan, where his life could be at risk.
‘Overwhelming impact’ on victim
Addressing Ahmadze directly, Judge Welsh said the jury had completely rejected his claim that the encounter was consensual.
“You acted in a predatory manner and took advantage of a vulnerable teenager who was unknown to you,” he said.
“What happened to her that night must have been a horrific ordeal.”
The judge said he had read the victim impact statement and noted the “shocking, overwhelming impact” the attack had on the victim.
Ahmadze was sentenced to nine years in prison, backdated to August last year, and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Police response
Detective Inspector Sam Buchan, of Police Scotland, said: “Rapualla Ahmadze is a predatory individual who took advantage of a vulnerable young woman for his own gratification.
“He will now face the consequences of his actions.
“We know this incident caused deep concern in the local community, and I hope this conviction and sentence send a clear message that sexual violence has no place in our society.”
