Posted on the 30th December 2025 in PHTM News

'CALCULATING' SEXUAL PREDATORS JAILED FOR BRISTOL GUEST HOUSE RAPE OF VULNERABLE WOMAN

Two men have been sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison following the "planned attack" of a vulnerable woman at a Bristol guest house in 2019.

Riaz Muhammed, 51, and Muhammed Zahid, 46, were both found guilty of rape following an eight-day trial at Bristol Crown Court.

The court heard that Riaz Muhammed, a taxi driver, picked up the victim and drove her to a guest house he selected, where he then arranged for Zahid to join him.

The victim was subsequently raped while she was unconscious.

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts against both defendants:

  • Riaz Muhammed: Sentenced to nine years in prison.

  • Muhammed Zahid: Sentenced to eight years in prison.

The men will be required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences in custody before being eligible for release on licence.

Investigating officers DC Laurence Castle and DC Saoirse Moore described the pair as "calculating sexual predators who preyed on a vulnerable victim, hoping she would not have the strength to come forward."

In a joint statement, the detectives highlighted the breach of trust involved in the 2019 attack, noting that the victim believed the men "were taking her to a place of safety," instead, she was forced to endure significant trauma.

"The victim has shown truly extraordinary resilience despite the amount of distress she was forced to endure... We admire her for coming forwards and remaining hopeful throughout the arduous process."

Officers expressed hope that the conviction would serve as a warning, stating: "We hope this conviction sends out an important message that any acts of violence towards women and girls will never be tolerated and every victim deserves to be heard and supported."

The investigators also commended the jury for their "remarkable determination" in processing the facts of the case and "recognising the vital importance of consent."


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