Migrant Jailed for Sex Attack on Young Woman in Cheltenham
Abdolrahman Banafsha, 20, an Iranian migrant who arrived in the UK by small boat, has been sentenced to 27 months behind bars. The young offender was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in Cheltenham last year.
Attack Happened After Woman’s Night Out
The court heard that on the early hours of 31 August 2024, then 19-year-old Banafsha targeted the vulnerable woman as she walked home. He groped her twice — first by touching her breasts under her clothes, then by placing his hands between her legs over her clothing.
Judge Demands Tough Sentence
At Bristol Crown Court on 5 November, Judge Lambert slammed the assault and handed down a 27-month sentence at a young offender institution. Banafsha must also register as a sex offender for a decade and regularly report his whereabouts to police during that time.
