Osman Bahidiny 27

Description

A rapist has been jailed for more than eight years after being convicted of multiple crimes.

Osman Bahidiny, 27, of Port Street, Evesham, was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison—six years for raping a woman in Bromyard in October 2023—at Worcester Crown Court on January 7.

He was also convicted of burglary, two thefts, attempted theft, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified and without insurance. Bahidiny was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and disqualified from driving for two years.

Now behind bars, his victim has spoken out about the “disgraceful time it takes" for rape victims to get justice. Adult rape survivors wait an average of 417 days from charging to Crown Court completion, plus years for police investigations.

The anonymous survivor said: “I am not alone in feeling this way. Why are people having to wait over five years before their case is heard?"

She described the wait as "mentally draining," adding: "justice has been done but it's taken a long time. For other victims who have to wait a distressing amount of time it must be horrific."

She reported the assault on December 31, 2023, after realizing “it was happening to others." The delay took its toll: “It kicks the strength out of you,” she said. “I installed CCTV all around my house and slept with a bat because he was just roaming free.

“Not enough is done, and the system needs changing because I shouldn’t have to live in this fear. I’m the one with a life sentence, not him."

According to Rape Crisis England & Wales, one in four women have been raped or sexually assaulted since age 16. Fewer than three in 100 rapes recorded by police in 2024 resulted in a charge that year.