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Student officers praised for chasing down rapist

Student police officers chase down rape suspect

Two student police officers have been praised for chasing down and arresting a rapist.

Declan McDevitt and Peter Jones were on patrol in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham last summer when they spotted a man matching the description of Awalkhan Sultankhail and managed to apprehend him.

PC Jones later said: "I felt immensely proud of myself and PC McDevitt as we have caught someone who has committed an horrific offence in broad daylight."

Sultankhail, 24, pleaded guilty to a charge of rape and was jailed for five years and three months, and ordered to spend a further four years on licence.

West Midlands Police said Sultankhail, of Anderton Road, Birmingham, had attacked his victim on Golden Hillock Road, in Small Heath on the afternoon of 27 August 2023.

The force said he had earlier tried to start a conversation with her, but when she walked away he had followed her into bushes in the park and attacked her.

West Midlands Police A man with black hair and a black beard and moustache, wearing a grey t-shirt in front of a grey backgroundWest Midlands Police
Awalkhan Sultankhail pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a park in August 2023

He fled when he was disturbed by a passer-by and the victim was later able to give a good description of him, which along with CCTV evidence was used to identify him.

He was spotted by the student officers four days later and after a chase they were able to corner him and arrest him on Ladypool Road, at the junction of Beechfield Road.

PC Jones said: "I was just concentrating on not letting him get away, due to the nature of the offence.

"I went home that day feeling satisfied that I have helped the victim get one step closer getting to the justice she deserves, and knowing that he won't be able to commit another offence for a long time."

West Midlands Police Close-up of police officer putting handcuffs on suspect after a chaseWest Midlands Police
He was caught thanks to the officer's determination, Supt Emlyn Richards

Sultankhail initially denied ever speaking to or following the victim, but later admitted the rape charge on 29 September 2023.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 20 December 2024.

Supt Emlyn Richards said the arrest had been "absolutely first-rate work by these two officers".

He added: "Thanks to their determination, he's now going to be spending many years behind bars."

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