A 24-year-old man, Umer Sajjad, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for raping a woman while she was asleep at a hotel in Cardiff.

The incident occurred in October 2019 at the Village Hotel. The victim had been out drinking with Sajjad in Cardiff city centre before returning to the hotel room. Sajjad, who claimed he had consumed alcohol for the first time that night due to his religious beliefs, got into bed with the victim while she was asleep and sexually assaulted her.

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Dyfed Thomas stated that the victim was asleep and could not have consented to the act. The victim, who was deeply affected by the incident, gave a powerful victim impact statement detailing the emotional and psychological trauma she endured.

"The day I was raped destroyed me in so many ways and I don't think I will ever understand... He ruined my life by lying and pretending I would have consented. How could I when I was asleep? He's ruined my life and my children's lives as they will never get the old me back. I'll never understand why he did this to me.... "

"He violated me in the worst way possible... I still cry as though it happened yesterday. I felt violated and will never forget what happened no matter how much support I get.... I feel like I died inside after being raped. Every day is a constant struggle but I owe it to myself and my family to come out the other end now justice has been served."

Sajjad was found guilty of rape by a jury after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court earlier this year. He will serve two-thirds of his sentence before being released on licence and will be subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.