Oliwia Zawislak, a 19-year-old university student from Gloucester, has courageously spoken out after surviving a harrowing sexual assault by Abdolrahman Banafsha, a 20-year-old Iranian asylum seeker. The attack occurred late on the night of August 31 last year as Oliwia was walking home from a night out.
Banafsha, who arrived in the UK earlier in March 2024 by small boat, was staying with a friend in Cheltenham when he followed Oliwia from a distance. After she tripped in a side street, Banafsha grabbed her from behind and carried her off the pavement. Despite her protests—telling him she had a boyfriend and needed to go home—he persisted.
Oliwia asked to use the toilets of a nearby pub, but was told it was closed. Banafsha then forcibly dragged her to his home in Cheltenham. Once inside, she tried to escape via the bathroom but was restrained. Banafsha pushed her down, attempted to kiss her, and sexually assaulted her over her clothing. Using all her strength, Oliwia screamed, kicked him off, and fled the house.
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Banafsha was arrested later that day and subsequently sentenced to 27 months in a young offender institution after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and must notify police of his whereabouts.
Reflecting on the traumatic night, Oliwia said, “I remember he forcefully pushed me into the house, and I felt something was terribly wrong. I tried to plan an escape in the bathroom, but he attacked me before I could get away.” She added, “I still can’t understand why, even when I screamed and told him to stop, he just kept going.”
Since the assault, Oliwia has struggled with physical contact, even with her long-time boyfriend. She has changed her appearance, dyeing her hair black and getting tattoos as part of coping with the trauma. Despite this, she credits her boyfriend’s support for helping her heal.
Oliwia made the brave decision to waive her anonymity to encourage other survivors to come forward. She said, “If it weren’t for the people encouraging me to report it, I might never have done so. It’s important that more women feel empowered to speak up about their experiences.”
Investigating officer Detective Constable Helen Goode praised Oliwia’s courage, emphasizing that “everyone should be able to go about their daily lives without fear of such attacks.”
The Home Office confirmed that foreign nationals convicted of a crime and given a custodial sentence over 12 months face automatic deportation proceedings under the UK Borders Act 2007.
Oliwia’s story is a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to confront sexual violence and the importance of support for survivors.