A mother’s report of a sexual assault led to her arrest, while the attacker remained free for nearly two years. Helen Ingham, 48, contacted the police to report being a victim of hotel manager Ahmed Fahmy’s reign of terror against women for over 15 years. However, when police missed the chance to arrest Fahmy, they handcuffed Helen instead and locked her in a cell overnight. Fahmy was eventually brought to justice almost two years later when two more women reported being raped or sexually assaulted by him at another hotel.
During a two-week trial, it was revealed that Fahmy had raped a woman and sexually assaulted another in January 2024, two years after Helen’s attack. He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting Helen and another woman in 2008. Helen decided to waive her anonymity, expressing her frustration at the police’s handling of the situation, stating, “The police failed me, and that’s more upsetting to me than what that man did.”
Helen recounted her ordeal where she was staying at an upmarket “yacht hotel” after a concert when she was attacked by Fahmy. Despite calling the police immediately, she felt they did not take her seriously or her statement and did not arrest Fahmy. Instead, she was arrested after becoming upset about the lack of attention to her assault claims. Subsequently, Helen chose not to proceed with her complaint due to the poor treatment received.
The Metropolitan Police are now investigating the actions of two officers involved in the initial response, while urging potential additional victims to come forward. Fahmy, who was convicted of multiple offences including rape and sexual assault, awaits sentencing. Helen expressed disappointment at the police response, highlighting that her arrest could have been avoided if the police had taken her seriously initially.
Reflecting on her distressing experience, Helen questioned, “If you can’t trust the police, who can you trust?” She criticised their inaction, stating that further crimes could have been prevented if they had listened to her warnings about Fahmy. The Metropolitan Police are committed to supporting victim-survivors and have emphasized the importance of protecting women and girls from violence.
The wider investigation into Fahmy’s crimes prompted a review of the officers’ actions, who remain under investigation. Helen’s bravery in coming forward and supporting the police has been crucial in securing Fahmy’s convictions. The police’s dedication to investigating sexual offences and supporting victims remains a key priority.