Two men from Reading have been jailed for a combined 19 years after a series of violent Airbnb robberies in which women were assaulted and threatened.
Muhammad Munir, 26, of Linden Road, was found guilty at Reading Crown Court of intentional strangulation, three counts of robbery and four counts of sexual assault on a female. He was acquitted of a second count of intentional strangulation.
His co-defendant, Shahime Finch, also 26 and of Linden Road, was convicted of three counts of robbery at the same trial, which concluded on 9 September.
At sentencing on Tuesday, Munir received 11 years in prison, while Finch was jailed for eight years.
The court heard that on 18 January this year, Munir and Finch travelled from Reading to Milton Keynes, where they forced entry into an Airbnb property in Milburn Avenue. Two women in their thirties were inside.
The pair demanded cash and threatened the victims with a screwdriver. One of the women was dragged into a bedroom while the property was searched, and £160 was taken before the men left.
Munir and Finch then travelled to Northampton, where they forced their way into another Airbnb, this time occupied by two women in their twenties.
One of the victims was assaulted after answering the door and dragged down the stairs. Both women were threatened and robbed, and Munir carried out further sexual assaults. The victims managed to escape and alert others. Around £1,500 and two iPhones were stolen.
Munir was arrested the following day and again on 12 February before being charged on 13 February. Finch was arrested on 7 February and charged the next day.
Detective Constable Samantha Le Jeune, who led the investigation, said it had been “a harrowing case”, adding:
“The defendants inflicted enormous terror on their victims and conducted abhorrent offences against all of them.”
She praised the “courage, strength and resolve” of the victims throughout the investigation and thanked Northamptonshire Police for their response during the second incident.
“Violence against women and girls is abhorrent, and Thames Valley Police will not tolerate such offending,” she said. “I am pleased both Munir and Finch have now been held accountable.”
She urged victims of similar offences to come forward, saying they “will be listened to and supported”.
Thames Valley Police said support information is available on its website, which provides links to organisations helping victims of violence against women and girls.
