Migrant Man Sentenced for Horrific Attack
Abdolrahman Banafsha, a 20-year-old Iranian migrant who arrived on a small boat, has been locked up for 27 months. The crime? Sexually assaulting a vulnerable 18-year-old woman in Cheltenham last year.
Attack Took Place After Woman’s Night Out
The court heard how Banafsha, then 19, targeted the woman as she walked home in the early hours of 31 August 2024. He molested her twice, once by touching her breasts under her clothes, and again by touching her between her legs over her clothing.
Judge Calls for Tough Punishment
At Bristol Crown Court on 5 November, Judge Lambert handed down a concurrent 27-month sentence at a young offender’s institution. Banafsha must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and report his whereabouts to the police throughout that time.