A young woman, seeking a fresh start and a place to live, unknowingly walked into a terrifying trap. She connected with a man, Mirza Begg, through a popular flatsharing application, hoping to find a safe and affordable room.
The court heard how Begg deliberately exploited the app, turning it into a calculated scheme to isolate and control his victim. He offered her a room, then picked her up in a borrowed car, carefully constructing a facade of normalcy.
Upon arriving at his flat, the pretense shattered. Begg immediately instilled fear, brandishing weapons to subdue the woman before the assault began. She was held against her will, a prisoner in a nightmare unfolding far from safety.
Desperate, the victim managed to discreetly message a friend, revealing she was being attacked. That single message triggered a rescue operation, bringing police to her aid and ending her ordeal.
The prosecutor detailed the chilling lack of consent, emphasizing that not a single moment of the encounter was voluntary. Begg’s actions were a deliberate and brutal violation, masked by a carefully crafted lie about seeking companionship.
Begg, who had a history of battery and theft, refused to cooperate with probation services, offering no insight into his motivations. His silence spoke volumes, revealing a cold disregard for the devastation he caused.
The judge condemned the offenses as “very serious,” highlighting the predatory nature of Begg’s actions. He had presented himself as a recently divorced man seeking a housemate, a calculated attempt to lure a vulnerable young woman into his home.
When the woman resisted his advances, Begg responded with escalating violence. He swore at her, demanded compliance, and then subjected her to a horrific sexual assault, ignoring her desperate attempts to fight him off. A knife was used in the threats, adding another layer of terror.
The ordeal only ended when Begg eventually fell asleep. It was then that the police were alerted, leading to his arrest and the beginning of justice for the victim. The judge emphasized Begg had deliberately targeted someone young, almost half his age.
Mirza Begg was sentenced to twelve years in prison, and will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. He will serve a substantial portion of his sentence behind bars before any consideration for release.
