BARKING SERIAL RAPIST COULD BE MOVED TO OPEN PRISON AFTER PAROLE BOARD REJECTS IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Sunny Islam,38, was sentenced in 2012 to an indefinite sentence of imprisonment for public protection after being convicted of seven counts of rape, one sexual assault and one count of kidnap.
A convicted rapist who attacked a series of women and a 15-year-old girl in east London could be transferred to an open prison, after a Parole Board panel decided that releasing him into the community would not currently be safe.
Sunny Islam, now 38, was sentenced in 2012 to an indefinite sentence of imprisonment for public protection after being convicted of seven counts of rape, one sexual assault and one count of kidnap.
His attacks took place in east London in 2010 and involved victims being threatened with a knife and, in some cases, restrained.
Islam’s minimum term was set at 11 years and expired in 2021, but his sentence was an indefinite one, meaning he has remained in custody while his suitability for release has continued to be assessed.
The latest parole hearing has now resulted in a recommendation that he should progress to an open prison.
However, the panel did not approve his release into the community.
The final decision on whether he is transferred to open conditions rests with the Secretary of State.
Attacks across east London
Islam was linked to a number of attacks in the area around Barking after police arrested him following the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in September 2010.
The girl had been walking home with a friend when Islam grabbed her, forced her into a car at knifepoint and drove to a secluded location.
The court heard that she was raped twice.
During sentencing, Judge Patricia Lees referred to Islam’s stated intention of “teaching her a lesson” and criticised his attitude towards his victims.
Following his arrest, DNA evidence connected Islam to three other attacks in the Barking area.
One involved a 20-year-old woman who was attacked in July 2010.
The court heard that she was restrained and assaulted after resisting him.
In a victim impact statement, she described being left believing she might die.
Later that month, a 28-year-old woman was attacked in Forest Gate.
Islam dragged her into his vehicle and forced her to perform a sexual act, but she managed to escape by kicking out the rear window of the car.
A further victim was attacked in September 2010.
Police later discovered her blood inside Islam’s vehicle, together with a knife and plastic restraints.
The evidence helped establish the connection between Islam and the attack.
He was ultimately convicted of seven rapes, one sexual assault and kidnap.
Parole decision
The Parole Board’s latest assessment considered whether Islam could safely be released from custody.
The panel concluded that he should not currently be released.
However, it recommended that he could move to an open prison as a step towards possible eventual release.
The Board identified a number of risk factors associated with his previous offending.
These included what it described as problematic attitudes towards sex and relationships, a preference for violent or controlling sexual behaviour, acting impulsively, difficulties dealing with stress and a previous failure to properly understand the harm caused to his victims.
The published assessment also says Islam has made progress during his time in prison.
He has completed programmes intended to address sexual offending and the Parole Board said he had demonstrated the application of relevant learning and skills while in custody.
The panel heard differing views from professionals involved in his case.
A prison officer supported his release, while a psychologist and probation officer did not support immediate release and instead recommended that he progress to an open prison.
The panel rejected immediate release but supported the recommendation for progression to open conditions.
Victim wanted hearing made public
The parole hearing was held in private despite an application from one of Islam’s victims for the proceedings to be made public.
The Parole Board subsequently published a decision explaining the outcome of that application.
The latest decision does not mean Islam has been released.
It means the Parole Board has recommended a move to open conditions, with the Secretary of State now responsible for deciding whether that recommendation is accepted.
Open prisons have lower security arrangements than closed prisons and can allow eligible prisoners to undertake approved activities outside the prison, including work or education.
Any eventual release would also be subject to licence conditions and supervision.
For now, the Parole Board’s published position is that Islam should remain in custody because it does not consider release into the community to be safe at this stage.
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Is this some idiotic joke , rape has long term affects on the victims , the rapist doesn’t care and will reoffend so why on earth are we letting these criminals out to reoffend, Burham is clearly out of touch with reality and needs kicking out of office along with his government of clowns