Judge jails rapist whose victim was so traumatised she FAINTED in the witness box

Published 3 November 2026, 16:44

• Zain Hussain, formerly of Darwen, receives ten years and ten months for rape, sexual assault and two strangulations.
• While Hussain sat on remand for assault, his victim revealed the sex attacks and detectives questioned him in prison.
• Detective Constable Dan Healey said Hussain 'showed no remorse' and praised the victim's 'brave' evidence.

A rapist who forced his vulnerable victim to relive her ordeal at trial has been jailed for ten years and ten months after she fainted and vomited in the witness box giving evidence against him.

Zain Hussain, 20, formerly of Darwen, was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on 3 November 2026 following a Preston Crown Court jury's guilty verdicts on charges of rape, sexual assault by penetration, two counts of non-fatal strangulation, and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The case began in November 2025 when the victim went to Greenbank Police Station in Blackburn to report an assault by Hussain.

Officers arrested him the following day and he was charged with assault and remanded to prison.

While Hussain sat on remand, his victim disclosed that she had also been subjected to sexual offences by him, significantly widening the investigation.

In January 2026, detectives from Lancashire's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team travelled to HMP Altcourse to interview Hussain about the additional allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the expanded charges the same day.

Hussain, now of no fixed address, denied all charges and took the case to trial.

The jury convicted him on every count in August 2026.

The trauma of giving evidence was so severe that the victim fainted and vomited in the witness box.

Alongside the prison sentence, Hussain was made subject to an indefinite restraining order concerning his victim, and he must also register as a sex offender.

Detective Constable Dan Healey, of Lancashire's East Division Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, condemned Hussain in stark terms.

"Zain Hussain committed horrific offences against his victim who was extremely vulnerable and knowing how vulnerable she is, then forced her to relive her ordeal by giving evidence at court," he said.

DC Healey paid tribute to the victim's courage: "I would like to pay tribute to her for doing so in the brave way that she did."

On Hussain's conduct throughout proceedings, DC Healey said: "Hussain has shown no remorse for what he did and took the case to trial, that forcing the victim to give evidence at court which had such a traumatic effect on her and I welcome the lengthy sentence imposed by the judge for this serious offending."

DC Healey also issued a direct appeal to other victims: "If you have been a victim of sexual offences, please report it to Lancashire Police. You will be listened to and supported, and we will investigate thoroughly to bring offenders to justice."