Man who raped two women has jail term challenged
Cleveland PoliceA rapist who attacked two women within an hour of each other will have his sentence reviewed over concerns it is too lenient.
Haider Ali, of Ayresome Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 10 years after raping his victims in separate late-night attacks in Stockton last September.
The Attorney General's Office confirmed his sentence would be considered at the Court of Appeal on 17 June, after it was referred under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.
Ali had initially denied the charges, claiming the sex was consensual, but was convicted following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The court was told Ali raped the first woman at the side of a derelict building near Yarm Road, at about midnight on 7 September 2024.
He was captured running away on CCTV .
An hour later, he attacked a second woman in the same place after she had been walking along Spring Street.
In a victim statement read out in court, one of the women said: "I was in so much pain after the attack, I feel horrible inside.
''I had the daily struggle leading up to the trial thinking he would get away with it."
Cleveland Police praised the ''courage and determination'' of the victims for coming forward and helping bring Ali to justice.