A mother was failed by police after she was arrested for reporting that she had been sexually assaulted.
Helen Ingham, 48, originally called the police to report she had been the victim of sexual assault from the foot-fetish rapist, Ahmed Fahmy, 45. The perpetrator had committed his horrific crimes several times against woman for over 15 years.
However, the police did not take Helen seriously at first and instead arrested her after she grew angry at them for not arresting him. She was then locked in a cell overnight.
Fahmy walked free and remained free for two whole years before he was brought to justice. Before this, he raped and sexually assaulted two other women at a hotel.
(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
Police then contacted Helen for a statement and a two week trial heard he raped a woman, and sexually assaulted another in January 2024 at a hotel – 22 months after Helen’s attack.
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting Helen – and another woman years earlier in 2008. Helen bravely waived her anonymity to tell the truth abut her traumatic experience.
She revealed she had been staying at a luxury hotel following a Stormzy concert when the attack took place. Helen emphasised that she called the police immediately, but was at first dismissed.
Helen, from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “The police failed me, and that’s more upsetting to me than what that man did. They got in touch years later to talk to me about what he did to me – but when I told them at the time they ignored me.
“I tried to tell the police that he would offend again but they didn’t listen – the rape could have been avoided but instead they arrested me.”
(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
Fahmy escorted Helen and her daughter to their room and when Helen’s daughter went out for a cigarette, the man assaulted Helen on her bed.
“He let us into our room and I thought it was strange when he came in with us. I had sat on the bed and taken off my socks and shoes, and I thought he would leave at that point.
“But he sat down at the end of the bed, pulled my foot off the bed, and put my big toe in his mouth. I shouted at him to get out of the room, then I went to go and find my daughter in case he went to find her.
“When we tried to get back inside, our cards wouldn’t work, because he had locked us out.”
Metropolitan Police are currently investigating the two officers who attended the scene.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, Home – Victim Support .