Dogan/002

Southport rapist jailed

12/11/2010

Six and a half year jail term for rapist.

A Southport man who raped a young woman after befriending her the day before the attack has been jailed.

Prosecutors told Liverpool Crown Court that Hassan Dogan, 26, met the woman In a cafe in the town and struck up a conversation after realising they had a mutual friend. After meeting her for a coffee they had exchanged a few text messages.

The following day Dogan met the victim at the cafe where he became alarmingly overly-friendly, calling her his girlfriend, and later that same day he called at her home and violently attacked her.

Lesley Haworth, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside CPS and a specialist rape lawyer working in the Unity team, said: "Dogan barely know the victim, but that didn't stop his horrific and violent assault. Even when she was pleading with him to stop, his callous response was that 'he only wanted to play'"

Married father-of-one Dogan was convicted after a trial and sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

The case is the latest to be handled by the Unity Team - a joint initiative involving specialists from both Merseyside Police and Merseyside CPS dealing with rape and serious sexual assault.

Unity involves rape investigators and prosecutors working together in a co-located office at the premises of the Police Force Crimes Operations Unit in Allerton.

Merseyside CPS has assigned three specialist rape prosecutors, supported by two dedicated paralegal officers. This co-location has enables prosecutors and police investigators to work closely together as soon a rape or serious sexual assault is reported. The case can then been built to the highest possible standard focussed on the presentation of the evidence at court including the care and support for the victim.

Mrs Haworth added: "Our initial priority in this case was to offer advice to the police on the evidence which might be required and on the most appropriate charge.

"We were confident that we had the evidence and information we needed to prosecute and Dogan's conviction is a testament to the thorough investigative and case preparation work.

"I would like to thank the victim who bravely gave evidence in court after suffering a harrowing experience. Her courage means a dangerous rapist is off our streets."

End

For more information contact Sharon King, Group Communications Manager, CPS Mersey Cheshire, on 0151 239 6465.