A 26-YEAR-OLD Chelmsford man was jailed for six years yesterday after being found guilty of rape.

Roddy Ashworth

A 26-YEAR-OLD Chelmsford man was jailed for six years yesterday after being found guilty of rape.

Rami Kayyali, a sales assistant from Shelley Road, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court charged with attacking a woman in June after she got into his car in the town thinking it was a taxi.

The judgement is the fifth sentence to be handed down in connection with rapes in Chelmsford within eight days.

On Tuesday Jamoliddin Tulaganov, 24, of Byron Road, Chelmsford, and Nuriddin Shakhabutdinov, 22, also of Byron Road, were sentenced to nine years and seven years and seven months respectively for raping a woman in Central Park on January 14.

Tulaganov was also found guilty of sexually assaulting another woman last November, while Shakhabutdinov had admitted the January rape as well as sexual assault and common assault.

Last Friday Liyawo Kwada, 21, of Haif Court, Chelmsford, was jailed for eight years for raping a 17-year-old girl in Meadgate Park on July 1.

Jeremias Masisi, 21, of Maskells Way, Chelmsford, admitted aiding and abetting the attack and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Police stressed that the three offences were separate and unconnected, and the fact they came up in court within such a short space of time was coincidental.

A spokesman said: “We are pleased that these offenders have been convicted and locked up.

“Public safety is and always will be a priority in Chelmsford.”

Speaking after Kayyali's conviction, Detective Sergeant Andy Willmott said: “Thankfully these types of crimes are very rare, but that makes it no less distressing for the young woman subjected to an attack by this man.

“I hope that today's verdict will in some way help her to feel that justice has been served. Chelmsford is a safe town and now even more so with this man behind bars.”

He added: “The young woman attacked by Kayyali got into his car believing it was a taxi.

“I would urge everybody to always ensure they use genuine licensed taxis, either by booking in advance or from a designated taxi rank.”