20 FEB 2025
An ‘utterly despicable’ rapist who attacked a teenage girl and then threatened to release intimate pictures he had taken of her without her consent has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Umar Farooq told the ‘vulnerable’ girl he would slit her throat, throw boiling water over a friend of hers and beat her dad up if she did not pay him. The 21-year-old also threatened to smash the windows of her house and post the naked images of her on the neighbour’s windows.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, handed over nearly £2,000 to him before going to police. Farooq, of Smith Street, Bradley, Nelson, BB9 9 was later arrested and charged.
He had admitted offences of blackmail, harassment, distributing and threatening to distribute personal private images but denied raping the girl, however he was convicted after a trial in December last year. He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday (February 19) to a total of 12 years behinds bars.
Lancashire Police said Farooq was classed as a ‘dangerous offender’ and given an extended licence period of four years, taking the total sentence to 16 years. He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is eligible to apply for parole.
He was also made subject of a 20 year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. An indefinite restraining order was put in place to protect the victim.
https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/despicable-rapist-theatened-share-intimate-31046642