Everyone must challenge predatory and sexualised behaviour, a senior police officer said after a York rapist was jailed for eight years.
Door staff at Vudu in the city centre were so concerned about Eid Anwar Fathi Najjar’s intentions that they warned him not to go off with a woman he encountered at the venue, York Crown Court heard.
But he ignored them and took her to a secluded spot and raped her before returning to the venue.
They later helped police bring the rapist to justice by giving witness statements against him.
The officer who led the investigation against Najjar, Det Supt Fionna McEwan of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Rape and sexual assault have far-reaching and long-lasting effects on survivors and everyone in society must challenge predatory and sexualised behaviour when they see it.
“All women must be able to enjoy a night out without worrying about the entitled behaviour of predatory men.
“I urge anyone - if you are a victim of rape or sexual assault, no matter when it happened, please come forward.
"You will be listened to and all reports will be fully investigated. Even if the incident was a long time ago and it is not possible to convict the offender, you will still be offered all of the support services that are available to victims of abuse.”
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More than 20 officers were involved in the operation that led to Najjar’s arrest shortly after the rape.
Detectives viewed 191 clips of CCTV footage inside the venues where the woman had been drinking and of city centre streets including one showing him sexually assaulting her before the rape.
They also took 90 witness statements and prepared 183 exhibits for court, as well as getting phone data and forensic evidence that linked Najjar to the crime.
Among those who gave statements against Najjar were door staff at two venues where the woman had been drinking, Vudu and Bobos, and noticed her condition.
Najjar, 22, of King Street, central York, claimed to police the woman had consented to sex with him and initially denied the charge, but shortly before he was due to stand trial changed his plea.
He then accepted the prosecution case that the woman was so drunk no man could reasonably have believed she was capable of giving consent to sex.
