Key Points

• Sunny Islam, 37, was convicted in 2012 of seven counts of rape, one sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment for attacks on four women in east London during 2010.
• He used a knife and plastic cable ties, dragged victims from the street, restrained them and subjected them to violent beatings and rape. Police believe there may be further unidentified victims.
• Islam received an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of 11 years. That minimum tariff expired in 2021, but he remains in custody pending a Parole Board decision.
• A Parole Board oral hearing has been scheduled and will be held in private after the board rejected an application for a public hearing.
• Victim Jordan Hart requested that the hearing be held in public, arguing there was a significant public interest and ongoing concern about risks to women and children.
• Judge Jeremy Roberts refused the application, citing Islam’s reported anxiety and the fact that the views of other victims were unknown.
• At sentencing in 2012, Judge Patricia Lees described the harm caused by Islam as “incalculable” and condemned his attitude towards women.

East London (East London Times) August 3, 2026 – Sunny Islam remains in prison while awaiting a Parole Board decision on whether he can be safely released.

The upcoming oral hearing will take place in private after the Parole Board rejected an application for it to be held in public. The decision followed submissions from Islam’s legal representatives, who argued that a public hearing would increase his anxiety and have a destabilising effect.

The Parole Board will consider whether Islam continues to present a risk to the public before reaching any decision on release.

Why will the parole hearing be held in private?

The Parole Board decided not to grant a public hearing after considering submissions from both parties.

Islam’s solicitor argued that publicity surrounding the proceedings had caused increased anxiety and sleep disturbance, and that a public hearing could negatively affect his wellbeing.

Judge Jeremy Roberts concluded that the statutory test for holding the hearing in public had not been met and also noted that the views of all victims were not known.

Who applied for a public hearing and why?

Victim Jordan Hart applied for the parole hearing to be held in public.

The application argued there was significant public interest because of the seriousness of Islam’s offences and concerns about the potential risk he could pose if released.

It also argued that greater transparency would help improve public understanding of how the justice system manages serious sexual offenders.

What crimes was Sunny Islam convicted of?

Islam was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court in 2012 of:

• Seven counts of rape.
• One count of sexual assault.
• One count of false imprisonment.

The offences related to attacks on four women across east London during 2010.

The court heard that Islam used a knife and plastic cable ties to restrain victims before subjecting them to prolonged physical and sexual violence.

Police have previously stated they believe additional victims may never have come forward.

How was Sunny Islam identified and arrested?

The investigation linked several attacks through forensic evidence and vehicle registration records.

Following the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl, detectives connected Islam’s vehicle to earlier offences.

When officers searched his home in Barking, blood recovered from his vehicle was matched to another victim, providing further evidence linking him to the attacks.

What sentence did Sunny Islam receive?

In 2012, Islam was given an indefinite prison sentence with a minimum tariff of 11 years.

That minimum term expired in 2021, but this did not entitle him to automatic release.

Instead, any release depends entirely on the Parole Board deciding that his continued detention is no longer necessary for the protection of the public.

What did the sentencing judge say?

At sentencing, Judge Patricia Lees strongly criticised Islam’s attitude towards women and the extreme violence used during the attacks.

The judge referred to his statement that he would “teach her a lesson” for being outside at night and described those words as reflecting a deeply troubling attitude towards women.

She concluded that the harm inflicted on the victims was “incalculable.”

Background to the Sunny Islam case

Sunny Islam carried out a series of violent sexual attacks across east London over a three-month period during 2010.

His victims included women of different ages, including a teenage girl. During the attacks he used weapons including a knife and plastic cable ties, restrained victims and subjected them to prolonged violence.

The investigation combined forensic evidence, vehicle identification and police enquiries, leading to his conviction in 2012 on multiple rape and sexual offence charges.

Although the minimum term of his indefinite sentence has expired, he remains in custody because release is subject to an independent assessment by the Parole Board.

Prediction: How could this development affect victims and the wider public?

The outcome of the parole hearing is likely to be closely watched by victims, survivors of sexual violence and the wider public.

If the Parole Board determines that Islam continues to present a significant risk, he will remain in custody. If release is approved, it would typically be subject to strict licence conditions and ongoing supervision designed to manage any identified risks.

The case also continues to highlight the balance the parole system must strike between protecting the public, considering victims’ interests and independently assessing whether offenders serving indeterminate sentences remain safe to release.