Failed asylum seeker Mehmet Bulut jailed for six years for attempted rape in Hereford
Mehmet Bulut, 31, who arrived in the UK by small boat in 2022, was jailed for six years at Worcester Crown Court for attempting to rape a woman in a Hereford subway. The judge understood he would be deported.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Mehmet Bulut, 31, a failed asylum seeker, has been jailed for six years, with a further three years' extended licence, for attempting to rape a woman in Hereford. Daily ExpressR “Bulut admitted one count of attempted rape and was jailed for six years, with a further three years' extended licence.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “Bulut admitted one count of attempted rape and was jailed for six years, with a further three years' extended licence.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 2Worcester Crown Court heard the attack happened at about 4am on Sunday 2 August, near a subway, and was caught on CCTV. Daily MailR “was captured on CCTV following the woman into a dark subway in Hereford in the West Midlands at about 4am on Sunday, August 2.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily ExpressR “Bulut was lurking near the subway when he followed the woman before attacking her at around 4am on Sunday, August 2.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 2Prosecutor Simon Phillips said Bulut removed some of the woman's clothing as he tried to rape her and initially walked away, but then returned and attacked her again. Daily ExpressR “Bulut removed some of the victim's clothing as he tried to rape her before initially walking off.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “But he then returned and tried to attack the woman again.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The woman told him to "f*** off", and he replied "Just sex, just sex", the court heard. Daily ExpressR “The woman told Bulut to "f*** off", to which he replied: "Just sex, just sex," the court heard.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 2Police were told Bulut was working at a restaurant and arrested him later the same day; the Express names it Grillology, while the Mail says Grill-O-Logy in Leominster. Daily ExpressR “Police later received information that Bulut was working at a restaurant called Grillology and arrested him later that day.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “Bulut was working at a restaurant called Grill-O-Logy in Leominster and arrested him later that day.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 2Bulut told officers he had been incredibly drunk and was shocked at his actions on CCTV; asked if he was trying to rape the woman, he said "I don't know, I don't know, I swear to God I don't know" and "If you bring her here, I will kiss her hands and feet and ask for forgiveness". Daily ExpressR “He told officers he had been incredibly drunk and was shocked he had acted in the way shown on CCTV.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “'If you bring her here, I will kiss her hands and feet and ask for forgiveness'.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The court heard he had been drinking Jack Daniel's and thought being drunk could have justified the attempted rape. Daily MailR “The court heard he had been drinking from a bottle of Jack Daniel's and thought being drunk could have been justification for the attempted rape.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 2Defence barrister Dean Easthope said the "kiss her hands and feet" remark was a cultural expression, not sexual, and that Bulut was disgusted, embarrassed and sorry, had no previous convictions and had a difficult upbringing; the Express adds that Easthope said drunkenness made matters worse, not better. Daily MailR “Defence barrister Dean Easthope said the latter comment was a cultural expression, not sexual, and that his client was disgusted and embarrassed by his actions.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily ExpressR “But Mr Easthope said his drunkenness actually made matters worse.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 2The court heard Bulut, a Turkish-Kurd of no fixed address, arrived on a small boat on Boxing Day 2022; Mr Phillips said his asylum application was later withdrawn by immigration authorities for non-compliance, making him an absconder. Daily ExpressR “But prosecution barrister Simon Phillips said immigration later withdrew his asylum application due to non-compliance, making him an absconder.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “The court heard Bulut arrived in the UK on a small boat on Boxing Day 2022.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 2Judge Simon Drew KC called the CCTV footage shocking and described Bulut as a "dangerous offender whose actions were terrifying", and said his understanding was that Bulut would be deported. Daily ExpressR “Judge Simon Drew KC described the CCTV footage of the attack on the mature lady as shocking and classed Bulut as a "dangerous offender whose actions were terrifying".” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “The judge said it was his understanding that, as an asylum seeker who had absconded, Bulut would be deported.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both lead with Bulut's immigration status and small-boat arrival alongside the sentence, presenting the case as a crime committed by a failed asylum seeker facing deportation.
- Emphasis
- Small-boat arrival, absconding and likely deportation; the attacker's words and the CCTV; the judge's description of a dangerous offender.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither article gives the victim's own account beyond the court's description, and the Mail's text places Hereford in both the West Midlands and Hertfordshire.
- Charged language
- “terrifying late-night attack”“dark subway”“lurking”
- For example
-
“Small boat asylum seeker shouted 'just sex' at woman as he tried to rape her” — Daily Express
“Failed asylum seeker who came to UK on small boat is jailed for six years for drunken rape attempt on woman in dark subway” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Mehmet Bulut, 31, admitted one count of attempted rape and was jailed for six years with a three-year extended licence.
- The attack was at about 4am on Sunday 2 August near a subway in Hereford and was captured on CCTV.
- Bulut arrived in the UK on a small boat on Boxing Day 2022 and was described as a failed asylum seeker.
- Judge Simon Drew KC called him a dangerous offender and said he understood Bulut would be deported.
Where accounts differ
-
Name and location of the restaurant where Bulut worked
- Right
- The Express says Grillology; the Mail says Grill-O-Logy in Leominster.
Mehmet Bulut person
Pleaded guilty to attempted rape; said he was very drunk and shocked at the CCTV, and through his barrister expressed remorse and said his 'kiss her hands and feet' remark was cultural.
“Defence barrister Dean Easthope said the latter comment was a cultural expression, not sexual, and that his client was disgusted and embarrassed by his actions.” — Daily Mail
Worcester Crown Court organisation
The court heard the prosecution case and the judge sentenced Bulut to six years plus a three-year extended licence, calling him a dangerous offender.
“Worcester Crown Court heard Bulut arrived in the UK on a small boat on Boxing Day 2022.” — Daily Express
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Small boat asylum seeker shouted 'just sex' at woman as he tried to rape her
Alarmist Leads with the small-boat arrival and the attacker's 'just sex' words, framing a violent, sustained attack by an absconding asylum seeker.
-
Alarmist Headline stresses failed asylum seeker, small boat and 'dark subway'; notes deportation and carries a location inconsistency (West Midlands/Hertfordshire).
- 15 Oct 11:32 First Daily ExpressR Small boat asylum seeker shouted 'just sex' at woman as he tried to rape her
- 15 Oct 16:44 +5h 13m Daily MailR Failed asylum seeker who came to UK on small boat is jailed for six years for drunken rape attempt on woman in dark subway
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…