Man jailed for rape and attempted rape of teenage boy in Leeds

Abdi Wahab Abdulla, aged 31, was found guilty after a four-day trial at Leeds Crown Court of rape and attempted rape. He had previously pleaded guilty to theft involving the same victim.

The charges relate to offences committed on the morning of January 14, 2023, when the victim, who was 19 years old at the time, had fallen asleep inside Queens Arcade in the city centre following a night out.

CCTV footage shows Abdulla, of Harehills Avenue, Leeds, enter the arcade and walk up to the victim, before searching him and putting items in his pocket.

The footage shows how the victim then wakes up, with Adbulla helping him to his feet and walking him out of the arcade. He then followed the victim for some distance, initially threatening him with a knife and orally raping him near the Merrion Centre.

He then attempted to anally rape the victim in Woodhouse Moor Park. It was after the oral rape that the victim realised that his phone, keys and credit card were missing from his pocket.

The offences were reported by the victim later that day.

Detective Constable Jack Powell, of Leeds Safeguarding, said: “The victim was by his own admission, and verified by CCTV footage, heavily intoxicated at the time of these offences, leaving him in an extremely vulnerable state and unable to consent to any sexual activity.

“Abdulla has taken advantage of this, firstly stealing the victim’s property before threatening him at knifepoint and subjecting him to horrific sexual offences. The way Abdulla followed him over a considerable period of time demonstrates a predatory nature and shows the danger that he poses.”

Abdulla was made a suspect after officers positively identified him in CCTV images. He was arrested on February 12, 2023, and his DNA was later found to be a match.

Today (Friday), he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and will be added to the Sex Offenders Register. The Judge commended the detectives involved in bringing him to justice.

Detective Constable Powell added: “These offences have had a huge impact on the victim, and I know no sentence can or will ever make up for the awful ordeal that he has suffered. I hope though that he is reassured that Abdulla has been held accountable for what he did and that he feels safer knowing that Abdulla is now in prison.

“The victim received specialist safeguarding support throughout this investigation, and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of any sexual offence to please come forward so that you can also be safeguarded. Offences against boys and men in particular are believed to be under-reported. I want to reassure male victims that you are not alone and that there should be no stigma in coming forward.”