A MAN from Calcot who tricked a woman into believing they were old school friends has been jailed for raping her.

Noormal Nazari, 31, of Charlville Drive, first met his victim in Reading on August 19, 2016 and struck up a conversation with her. The woman, aged in her 30s, thought she recognised him and believed him to be someone she knew from school.

In a deliberate act of deception, Nazari played along and managed to convince her that they had met some 17 years before. Despite knowing full well that he had not only never met her, but had not even been in the UK when the woman was at school, Nazari arranged to meet the woman for a 'catch-up'.

The following day, Nazari picked the woman up and took her to Basingstoke where they spent the evening drinking in a pub.

Winchester Crown Court heard how the pair later moved on to a club, during which time the victim was bought so much alcohol that she began to feel unwell and asked Nazari to drive her home.

In another act of dishonesty, the defendant claimed he was too drunk to drive and took his victim to a hotel in the early hours of August 21 where he raped her.

Following a trial, Nazari was found guilty of rape by a unanimous jury on Friday, July 6, and was jailed on the same day for six years.

DC Clare Hughes, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Nazari is a devious sexual predator who thought he could get away with plying the victim with so much alcohol that she would become too vulnerable to protect herself from him.

“From the moment he saw the victim he began planning his despicable attack.

“She thought she was going out for a catch up with an old friend from school. She hadn’t seen this person for so long that she did not realise the man in front of her was in fact not the person he was purporting to be.

“I am pleased with the outcome of today’s hearing and that Nazari is now behind bars.

“I want to thank the victim for her unwavering bravery and courage, and the fact that in the face of adversity she has remained strong through what was no doubt a very difficult two year period.”