Courts / Dublin / Report

10 years for burglar's violent sex attack on courageous victim who fought back

Date
2021-03-01
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin burglary, Ibrahim Elghynaoui (28) broke into a sleeping woman's bedroom through a window and sexually assaulted her while she fought back. The victim described being strangled, forced into sexual contact, and physically attacked before escaping. Elghynaoui denied the assault but admitted burglary. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and burglary. The judge imposed a ten‑year sentence for the sexual assault and seven and a half years for the burglary, with all sentences running concurrently. The victim, who suffered lasting physical and psychological harm, testified that the crime left her in a state of hyper‑vigilance and ongoing trauma. The case highlighted the severe impact of the assault on her life and relationships. The judge noted the defendant's high culpability and the lack of remorse. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offenses and the victim's suffering. Ibrahim Elghynaoui pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 10 years for burglar's violent sex attack on courageous victim who fought back. Charges or matters: aggravated sexual assault of the woman and burglary at her home in Dublin on July 17, 2019; the burglary of another man's nearby apartment earlier the same night and attempted burglary of another home on July 12, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: She described how she suffers bad insomnia but is too frightened to take sleeping tablets because she is terrified of being unconscious and unable to defend herself if attacked. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ibrahim Elghynaoui

Defendant

Charges: aggravated sexual assault of the woman and burglary at her home in Dublin on July 17, 2019; the burglary of another man's nearby apartment earlier the same night and attempted burglary of another home on July 12, 2019 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice McDermott imposed a sentence of ten years for the aggravated sexual assault and seven and a half years for the burglary of the woman's home. He imposed a sentence of three years for the earlier burglary and 18 months for the attempted burglary with all sentences to run concurrently. "To this day I do not feel safe," the woman told the court in her victim impact statement, describing the effect of being attacked in the privacy of her own bedroom. "Nowhere feels safe." She said she lives in a state of "hyper-vigilance" and lives in constant fear it will happen again. "I am fighting hard to heal from the ordeal.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Incident

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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