A 41-year-old man has been slammed with a 13-year jail term after being found guilty of two counts of rape alongside coercive and controlling behaviour. Aftab Zulfiqar, with no fixed address, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 15 April 2026.
Three Years of Brutal Control and Abuse
The victim, who was in a relationship with Zulfiqar for three years, faced relentless abuse that devastated her life. Zulfiqar dominated every part of her routine — from what she wore and ate to who she could talk to. He isolated her from friends and support networks to break her down. His obsessive demands for constant contact at work crippled her, causing her to lose a job she loved and making her more dependent on him.
Raped and Manipulated Behind Closed Doors
Zulfiqar exploited the trust in their relationship to rape her multiple times, twisting her mind into thinking it wasn’t abuse. The victim endured mental, emotional, physical, and sexual torment throughout the relationship. Despite the horror, she showed immense bravery by reporting Zulfiqar to Greater Manchester Police via LiveChat in October 2023. She then backed the investigation and gave crucial evidence in court.
Defiant Even After Arrest
After his arrest, Zulfiqar continued to harass those involved by posting about the case on social media. He has been in custody since September 2024 and remains behind bars. Police urge anyone suffering from sexual assault or rape not to suffer in silence. “Report it and seek support,” they say, highlighting the importance of specialist services.
