Nightclub Rape Horror: Egyptian Man Jailed but Pleads to Stay in UK
Devastating Night Out Turns Into Nightmare
A 21-year-old Egyptian man, Eid Anwar Fathi Najjar, has been locked up for raping a woman he lured from a York nightclub. The victim, heavily intoxicated and described as “zombie-like,” was approached by Najjar at Vudu Lounge around 2am after she had separated from her friends. Despite club staff warnings to Najjar to keep away, he slipped away with her unnoticed.
Staff spotted the victim “unsteady on her feet” and “in and out of conversation,” but Najjar ignored their cautions. After taking her to Shambles Market, members of the public later found her distressed and without trousers or underwear. Initially unable to recall the attack, she later reported the rape to police.
Najjar Pleads Guilty After Initial Denial
Najjar, living in York and seeking asylum, was arrested and charged on July 10 with rape and sexual assault. A second man arrested alongside him was cleared. At first, Najjar claimed the encounter was consensual but soon changed his plea to guilty.
His defence described the case as “complicated, emotional and unpleasant.” With no previous convictions, Najjar begged the court to let him serve his eight-year sentence in the UK rather than risk harsh punishment if deported back to Egypt.
Victim Left Traumatised by Attack
The court heard the victim still suffers frequent nightmares and has not yet told her parents about the ordeal. York Crown Court handed down Najjar’s sentence, prioritising justice for the traumatised woman over his pleas.
