A sex offender who raped a teenage boy in a Nottingham park has been jailed.
The victim, then aged 17, had gone for a walk through the Forest Recreation Ground on 18 July 2024 around 11.30pm.
He encountered a man, now known to be Mohammed Darweesh, who he believed was drunk and who began to pester him.
The victim tried to move away from 24-year-old Darweesh but he kept blocking his path.
He believed Darweesh was armed with a knife and agreed to follow him away from the path where the sexual assault took place.
Darweesh fled from the scene on foot with the teenager’s watch and a £10 note.
A passer-by pursued Darweesh in his van and the attacker dropped the watch on the floor.
Darweesh was later struck by a car in Mapperley Road around 4am the following day after members of the public saw him lying in the road.
He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Darweesh was identified as a suspect by detectives following forensic and other inquiries and was arrested when he was released from Queen’s Medical Centre.
Darweesh, of no fixed abode, was handed an extended jail sentence of nine-and-a-half years when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (28 March).
Upon release he will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect vulnerable people.
He had pleaded guilty to rape and attempted rape.
Detective Constable Richard Robertson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This was an appalling crime that understandably caused considerable distress in the community.
“The teenage victim was walking through the park when he was targeted and attacked by Darweesh.
“The victim was traumatised by what happened and this is likely to have a lasting impact upon both him and his family.
“I hope the outcome in court today can help them begin the process of moving on with their lives.
“Thankfully, incidents of this nature are extremely rare and when they do happen will be met with a robust response.
“Detectives and other officers worked extremely hard on the investigation, which helped to ensure Darweesh had no alternative but to admit what he had done.
“This at least spared the victim the further anxiety of a crown court trial.”
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