POLICE last night paid tribute to the victim of three men who filmed themselves sexually abusing her, as she lay comatose in an East Oxford flat.

Mohammed Shahjahan, 27, of Slaymaker Close, Headington, Oxford, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, while Feizal Ali, 25, of Howard Street, East Oxford, was found guilty of sexual assault by penetration.

Both had denied all charges.

A third man, Nicholas Jones, 26, of White Road, Cowley, Oxford, had already pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault by touching and voyeurism, at an earlier hearing.

The trio carried out the attack in November last year as the victim lay passed out on the sofa after drinking three vodka and Red Bull cocktails.

The jury heard that she had been invited to the flat for a “social evening”, but became so intoxicated that she passed out.

During the course of the trial, the jury was shown two mobile phone videos and one still image of the attacks.

Shahjahan admitted engaging in sexual activity, but argued it was consensual.

Lucy Tapper, defending, claimed he was the victim of a vendetta by the woman and a male friend who pressured her into reporting the incident as rape, as part of a feud.

But yesterday the jury rejected the claims, finding Shahjahan and Ali guilty of all counts.

Last night officers visited the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to tell her of the verdict.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Sgt Simon Beaton said: “I would like to express my appreciation to the victim for her courage, both during the investigation and throughout the lengthy trial.

“Without her perseverance and strength this would never have reached the conclusion it has today.

“This has been a long investigation by numerous officers into a truly sickening incident, which came to light after it was discovered the offences had been filmed by the men.”

And the victim’s support officer, Pc Teri Howes, urged other sexual assault victims to have the confidence to come forward to police and report similar attacks.

After the jury returned the unanimous verdict, Shahjahan, who had claimed he could not have raped his victim because he is impotent when drunk, shouted at police and prosecutors: “the system is racist anyway.”

Judge Julian Hall said Shahjahan could expect “a long sentence”.

All three men will be sentenced on September 10.

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk