Burnley ‘sex predator targeted nightclub women’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley ‘sex predator targeted nightclub women’

11:00am Tuesday 17th July 2012 in News By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A ‘MENACING and dangerous sexual predator’ allegedly put his hand up the skirts of two women in a Burnley nightclub, a court heard.

‘Out of control’ Rasul Abdullah, 31, also molested a mother two months later after locking the woman and her baby in his house in Brierfield, Burnley Crown Court heard.

After he was arrested, Abdullah claimed he had not done anything in the club and said the women were mistaken or simply lying.

He told police the third woman had been just after sex and had really scared him.

The defendant, of Cambridge Street, Brierfield, denies assault by penetration and sexual assault, last November 6, and sexual assault on January 9.

Joe Boyd, prosecuting, told the hearing that just after 2am, last November 6, the first alleged victim was on the dance floor in Pharoah's, when she felt a hand go underneath her skirt. She was sexually assaulted, the court was told.

The woman jumped forward, turned, could see who had done it and pushed him away.

She was very upset, was in tears and pointed out Abdullah, as he came out of the ladies' toilets, to the bar manager.

The defendant was taken hold of and ejected. Police arrived and arrested him. The woman later picked Abdullah out on an identity parade.

The prosecutor said when the alleged victim had been distressed, she was approached by another woman, who she didn't know, who told her the defendant had assaulted her in a similar way, by putting his hand up her dress and touching her bottom. She was extremely angry and also upset.

The second victim had seen Abdullah going into the ladies' toilets. When she subsequently went to the toilet, an Asian man had put his head around the door and she realised it was the same man. The second woman also picked out the defendant on an identity parade.

Mr Boyd said Abdullah had spoken to the third alleged victim twice and when she saw him outside his house on January 9, he asked her in and 'stupidly' she agreed, out of politeness. She had her baby with her, in a pushchair.

The defendant locked the front door, the woman asked him to unlock it, but he grabbed at her and tried to hug, kiss and touch her. She pushed him off, screamed and shouted to be let go and he finally unlocked the door and let out the woman and her child, the court heard.

Mr Boyd said: "She was extremely upset by what had happened and spoke to the headmistress at the school where one of her children attended.

"Police were called and the defendant was arrested."

Mr Boyd said Abdullah claimed to officers the women who had been in the nightclub were mistaken or simply lying and he had not done anything.

The prosecutor said the defendant was asked about the third alleged victim.

Mr Boyd said: "He said it had been her who had been banging on his door, demanding sex, going into his house saying 'I love you. I love you.' He said he was extremely frightened by it. She was just after sex and he threw her out of the house."

The prosecutor alleged to the jury that when they had heard the evidence, they could be sure Abdullah was a 'dangerous sexual predator' who was out of control and a 'menace to women,' at the time of the alleged offences.

(Proceeding)