Man who raped unconscious woman in street jailed

News imageSouth Yorkshire Police A mugshot of Ansar Younis, who has short black hair and a beard.South Yorkshire Police
Ansar Younis was convicted after four girls saw the attack and identified him

A man who raped an unconscious woman in Sheffield city centre, ignoring four girls who pleaded with him to stop, has been jailed for nine years.

Ansar Younis, 41, of Sheffield, attacked the woman on a street in the city at about 01:00 BST on 20 September last year.

Police said four girls who witnessed the assault challenged Younis, and when he ignored them they filmed the attack in order to provide evidence against him.

Younis was found guilty following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court in March and was sentenced to nine years in jail at the same court on 2 July.

South Yorkshire Police said on the night of the attack, witnesses called the ambulance service who then called officers to the scene.

The ambulance service took the woman to hospital where she was treated for her injuries and forensic evidence was gathered.

The girls who filmed Younis identified him to police and he was arrested and later charged.

Det Con Sophie Windle, the officer in charge of the case, said: "This was a horrific attack against a woman who did not and could not consent.

"Rather than talk about the man who carried out this sick act, I would like to recognise the bravery of the four girls who intervened to record the offence, providing evidence that was absolutely instrumental at trial."

She added: "Sheffield District Commander Jamie Henderson thanked the girls following the incident, and I would like to add my thanks now that justice has been served.

"These girls were upstanders, not bystanders. As soon as they realised what was happening they stepped in and they have helped put a rapist behind bars."

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