A 23-year-old man has been convicted of raping a woman as she walked through Slough.

At approximately 2.30am on 17 August 2016 the victim, a woman aged in her forties, was walking at the rear of the Montem Leisure Centre towards the A3. Shortly after the woman, Mahmood, and another man he was with, entered Salt Hill Park.

Hamid Mahmood then raped her and subsequently assaulted her by smashing a wine bottle over her head. The woman was assisted by two members of the public after the incident who called the emergency services.

Mahmood was arrested later the same day (17/8/16) and was charged on 18 August 2018. Two more men were arrested in connection with the investigation and were released without charge.

Following a trial which started on 11 February, Hamid Mahmood, of Griffin Close, Slough was found guilty of one count of rape and convicted by a majority jury at Reading Crown Court today (19 February).

Mahmood pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in connection with the same incident at a previous hearing a Reading Crown Court on 26 October 2018.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Ross Fleming, of Berkshire Force CID, said: “This was an extremely serious offence against this woman who was raped and, after that ordeal, was then violently assaulted. The incident has had a devastating and long-lasting impact upon her, and she will, no doubt, never forget what happened.

“This incident also had a significant impact upon the community, and I am pleased for the victim and the wider community in Slough that there is now a resolution to the appealing crimes that Mahmood committed more than two years ago. This case demonstrates that Thames Valley Police will relentlessly pursue justice on behalf of victims to ensure dangerous offenders are brought to court.”

Mahmood was remanded to appear at the same court for sentencing on a date which is yet to be confirmed.