Killer and sex offender Mohammed Akram deemed 'no longer a risk' jailed for multiple rapes

A convicted killer and sex offender who raped a woman after being no longer deemed to be a risk has been handed a life sentence.

Mohammed Akram committed crimes including attempted murder, rape and sexual assaults over three decades against four women.

The now 64-year-old already had a string of convictions for serious crimes stretching back more than 40 years when he attacked his latest victim.

Akram was locked up for five years in 1979 for the culpable homicide of a man behind a pub in Glenrothes, Fife.

In 2003, he was then handed a seven year sentence for the sexual assault of a teenage girl.

Akram was later released, but went on to be convicted in 2012 of abusing a four-year-old girl.

An Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) was imposed – effectively meaning he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

But, the conviction was then overturned after it was concluded the trial judge had misdirected jurors.

The young girl’s evidence was also considered unsafe due to her becoming distracted during her two-day stint as a witness.

Akram still remained the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Tough restrictions on his movements included him having to report to a police handler and his contact with women curbed.

But, in 2017, the measures were lifted when Sheriff Nigel Morrison ruled there was not enough evidence that Akram still posed a risk to the public – although he remained on the sex offenders register.

The decision to remove the SOPO was thought to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

Akram was sentenced for his latest crimes at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Gillian Wade KC imposed an OLR and ordered him to serve a minimum sentence of five years.

She said despite Akram having already served a number of jail-terms there had been “no impact” on his “propensity” to re-offend.

Akram was convicted at the same court in February of repeatedly raping the woman between December 1, 2010 and March 1,2022 – stretching to almost five years after the SOPO judgement.

The incident occurred at a flat in Edinburgh’s Newhaven and at a property in Glasgow’s Pollokshields.

He was further guilty of a separate charge of raping the same woman in the capital in March 2021 and of repeated assaults between January 1995 and December 2000 in Glasgow and Clackmannan, Clacks.

Jurors heard she was not his only victim.

They also convicted him of raping a vulnerable girl at a flat in Stirling in January 1997.

Akram was finally guilty of five charges against a third female – three rapes, attempted murder and indecent assault – committed between June 1999 and October 2001 at various locations across Scotland including Aberdeen and Stirling.

Akram had denied the accusations.

In a series of bizarre claims in his evidence, Akram claimed the woman he horrifically abused even after the SOPO was removed remained “supportive” of him.

The physical violence included him headbutting and spitting on her, hurling plates of food as well as brandishing a knife.

The court heard if Akram did not get what he wanted, he “would go mental”. Sexual contact was also “on his terms”.

The other victim – also younger than Akram – was repeatedly hit with a baton, glass bottle, hammer and dumbbell during the violence he inflicted.

She was also subjected to degrading sex attacks.

Akram again denied abusing this woman claiming to his KC Jim Keegan that he treated her “like a flower”.

Sentencing, Judge Wade said Akram had shown “minimal co-operation” in a full risk assessment being carried out on him.

She added: “The author concludes – despite your advancing years, you having served lengthy sentences and undergone post-release supervision – that there has been no impact on your propensity to re-offend.

“He has therefore assessed you as presenting an unequivocal high risk.”

Detective Sergeant Ryan McMurray said: “Akram is an abusive individual who showed no remorse for his violent and abusive actions.

“I would like to commend the women for their strength in coming forward during the investigation. Their information was essential in helping us build the case against him, and I hope this outcome provides them with some sense of closure.

“If anyone is experiencing or has experienced any type of violence or sexual abuse, please report it. We have detectives dedicated to investigating such offences. You can be assured that you will be fully supported by officers and our partner agencies.”