Rapist caught after being hit by car one day after ‘appalling’ Nottingham park attack
Mohammed Darweesh commited the attack on July 18, 2024
By Callum Wright
A Nottingham rapist was caught after he was hit by a car the day after carrying out an attack on a boy in a city park.
Mohammed Darweesh, 24, assaulted the teenager at the Forest Recreation Ground on the night of July 18 2024.
At around 11:30pm, the victim, then aged 17, encountered Darweesh, who he believed was drunk, and was pestered by him.
The teenager tried to move away from Darweesh but he kept blocking his path, before the teenager agreed to follow him as he believed Darweesh was armed with a knife.
After leading the teenager away from the path the assault took place, before Darweesh fled on foot with the teenager’s watch and a £10 note.
A passer-by tried to pursue him in his van as he ran, during which he dropped the watch on the floor.
But Darweesh was to be seriously injured the following day when he was hit by a car on Mapperley Road at around 4am, after members of the public saw him lying in the road.
Following forensic and other inquires, police identified him as a suspect and he was arrested following his release from Nottingham Queen’s Medical Centre.
The attacker, of no fixed abode, received a nine-and-a-half year sentence after appearing at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (April 1) as well as receiving a Sexual Harm Prevention Order following his release.
He had pleaded guilty to rape and attempted rape.
Det Con Richard Robertson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an appalling crime that understandably caused considerable distress in the community.
“The teenage victim was walking through the park when he was targeted and attacked by Darweesh.
“The victim was traumatised by what happened and this is likely to have a lasting impact upon both him and his family.
“I hope the outcome in court today can help them begin the process of moving on with their lives.
“Thankfully, incidents of this nature are extremely rare and when they do happen will be met with a robust response.
“Detectives and other officers worked extremely hard on the investigation, which helped to ensure Darweesh had no alternative but to admit what he had done.
“This at least spared the victim the further anxiety of a crown court trial.”
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