Student found guilty of rape after helping woman home

A 26-year-old student from Saudi Arabia has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman after helping her back to his shared apartment from a nightclub in Portsmouth.

The incident occurred in the early hours of June 28 on Greetham Street. Prosecutors reported that the woman, in her 30s, woke up to find the defendant attacking her in his flat.

Waleed Alharbi was convicted not only of rape but also of attempting to assault the woman in the shower. He remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on December 9.

According to the prosecution, the two met at the Astoria nightclub and left together, with Alharbi supporting and at times carrying the intoxicated woman back to his residence. In the bathroom, he allegedly pushed her down in the shower, turned on the water, and attempted to assault her. The woman, crying and screaming, eventually lost consciousness, only to awaken to find herself being assaulted on his bed. She reportedly pleaded with him to stop.

After the attack, Alharbi left on a scooter, leaving the woman outside the building, visibly distressed.

During his testimony, Alharbi, who was attending a language school, claimed the sexual encounter was consensual.

Judge Jane Miller KC, addressing the jury after the verdict, emphasized the importance of a jury in cases like this, stating that their impartiality is essential for justice. Her remarks coincided with government plans to eliminate jury trials in England and Wales for offenses carrying sentences under three years, while serious crimes such as rape, murder, and robbery will still require a jury.

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Author: Sophia Brooks