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Rape e-mail just a ‘prank’
24/ 9/2004
A YOUNG woman claimed an e-mail sent to a former colleague
suggesting she would be raped was "just a prank".
A court heard that the threatening e-mail was just one of several
others and 227 anonymous phone calls made by Nazis Shabnam to a
former work colleague Angela Smith.
Shabnam, aged 19, of Spotland Road, Rochdale admitted harassment
when she appeared at Rochdale magistrates court.
Mark Humphries, prosecuting, said that there was nothing in the
relationship between the two women to suggest a reason for
Shabnam's hostile behaviour.
He said Miss Smith began to receive anonymous phone calls which
varied in content from kisses blown down the phone to
whistling.
These were followed by e-mails, the last of which made reference to
a sex offender and the risk of being raped.
The police traced the calls to a phone used by the defendant in
Rochdale town hall where she worked.
Shabnam at first denied harassment but then owned up claiming she
believed her victim would realise the calls and e-mails were a
prank.
The court heard that Shabnam was no longer employed by the
council.
Defence lawyer, Don Owen, said Shabnam deeply regretted her
behaviour.
"She knew the complainant from a previous employment and they got
on well and for some reason she seemed to believe the aggrieved
lady would recognise this as a prank. The lady did not take it that
way which frankly does not surprise me."
He said Shabnam had never been in trouble before.
Magistrates said they would pass sentence of Shabnam after reading
reports into the state of her mental and social condition.
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