Prowling Leeds rapist who hunted women on his e-scooter at Christmas 'had the devil in his eyes'
He stalked the streets looking for lone women
A predator raped a woman and sexually assaulted another as he rode around Leeds on his scooter in the dead of night hunting for victims.
Haris Hussain was even described by one victim as “having the devil in his eyes” as he forced her into a degrading ordeal.
The 21-year-old appeared at Leeds Crown Court today where the judge deemed a danger to women, handing him an extended 15-year sentence.
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC told him: “You were prowling the streets of Leeds looking for solitary women to attack.
“These were horrific offences. It’s plain that you are dangerous.”
The court heard that the first victim had been walking along Harrison Street in Leeds city centre at 3am on Christmas Eve when she noticed a hooded male on an electric scooter heading towards her.
He rode passed her, but she felt a bang and Hussain grabbed her and lifted her up.
He pushed to the floor where he sexually assaulted her while calling her derogatory names.
Prosecutor Jeremy Hill-Baker said he then suddenly stopped “perhaps because he was about to be disturbed”, slapped the woman and stole her handbag while swearing at her.
The bag was recovered near Belgrave Music Hall a short time later with nothing stolen from it.
The disturbing incident was caught on CCTV.
A day later, at around 4am on Christmas Day, a woman in Harehills had gone outside for a cigarette when she noticed Hussain following her on a scooter.
He told her she was beautiful and that he had a cigarette he could give her.
He guided her down an alleyway where he then attacked her. Like the the previous victim, he swore at her and called her derogatory names.
Hussain, of Easterly Road, Gipton, was later arrested and gave a no-comment interview.
The victim later said he was smirking at her and “had the devil in his eyes”, and enjoyed the fact she was begging not to be assaulted.
She was eventually able to escape and hide from him.
Again CCTV helped identify him and he was arrested.
No victim impact statements were provided by the women, with one even stating she could not face reliving the trauma of that night.
Hussain appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand.
He admitted rape, sexual assault, two offences of assault by penetration, robbery, assault by beating, ABH, attempted assault by penetration and attempted rape.
Mitigating, Sarah Barlow, said Hussain was “horrified” that he had committed the offences and full accepted his actions.
Judge Stubbs handed Hussain a custodial sentence of 10 years, with a five-year extended licence period. He must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial element before being considered for parole.
He was put on the sex offender register for life.