Ramzi Barkat tailed the lone woman out of St James’s Park in central London and attacked her after she rejected his attempts to flirt with her
A “predator” who tried to rape a woman near Buckingham Palace has been jailed after a judge said police released him for a year in a “catalogue of incompetencies”.
Ramzi Barkat, 54, followed the lone woman out of St James’s Park in central London in the early hours of September 7, 2024. The victim rejected his attempts to flirt with her, after which she was tackled to the ground, grabbed by her wrists and “straddled”, His Honour Judge Justin Cole told Southwark Crown Court.
The judge said that Barkat “sought to take advantage of a lone vulnerable woman” and “acted like a predator”. The attempted rape was stopped when three “brave” young soldiers heard the woman’s screams as they were passing by.
Judge Cole sentenced Algerian-born Barkat to seven years and three months in prison today but criticised the police officers investigating the incident. The judge said they had shown a “catalogue of incompetencies” as Barkat was released either on bail or under investigation after the victim was interviewed.
Judge Cole said: “He was simply let go in a situation in which frankly he had been caught red-handed and presented a continuing danger to the public. The bottom line is this man was set free for period of a year, a year to do what he likes, in a situation where he had attacked a lone female in a park.
“The public would be appalled to hear of such laxity.” Barkat had been found guilty of attempted rape and of assaulting one of the soldiers who intervened.
He denied both counts, saying that he only tried to rob the woman of her phone, the court heard. The defendant, who lived in Mildmay Road, north London, was issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year restraining order.
The judge said he would be nominating the young soldiers for High Sheriff Bravery Awards.
