A man has been imprisoned for sexually assaulting another man in a city center park. Idrees Jaff carried out the attack near the bandstand in Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich, just after 23:00 BST on June 10 last year. The 39-year-old, residing at Berners Close, Norwich, initially pleaded not guilty to two charges of raping a male over 16; however, he was found guilty following a trial at King’s Lynn Crown Court in December. Jaff was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to 10 years in prison with an additional four years on license. Moreover, he was ordered to be on the sex offenders register for life.
During the sentencing, Recorder Michael Turner expressed his firm belief that the victim was in a vulnerable position. He stated, “You represent someone who is a serious risk of committing further offenses against members of the public. You have provided no justification for your actions.” The late-night assault occurred at Chapelfield Gardens in Norwich.
In a statement presented to the court, the victim shared the unbearable impact of the attack, expressing his struggles and the lasting trauma. He stated, “At times, I feel like I have lost my mind. This is not the life I want to lead and wasn’t the life I was living before this happened. I have had terrible nightmares about this incident, mainly of seeing the suspect in court smirking. I will now never forget his face.”
The court learned that Jaff, with 14 prior convictions dating back to 2004, encountered his intoxicated victim outside County Hall earlier that evening. They proceeded to Chapelfield Gardens, where they engaged in conversation and held hands. Subsequently, Jaff committed the assault in an area not covered by CCTV cameras. The victim, who was previously unacquainted with Jaff, reported the attack promptly.
A pre-sentence report characterized Jaff as a dangerous offender, a description that the judge fully endorsed. The judge remarked, “I do find that the victim was particularly vulnerable, which must have been obvious to you.” Defense attorney Michael Clare conveyed Jaff’s remorse for his actions, noting, “I observe that this is his first sexual offense.”
Upon completion of his sentence, Jaff faces deportation. Detective Constable Hayley Green from Norfolk Police’s safeguarding and investigation unit commented after the sentencing, stating, “This was a very distressing incident where a man was targeted in public by a stranger. Jaff is clearly a dangerous individual who exhibited predatory behavior, taking advantage of a very vulnerable individual late at night.”
