“I am always scared,” a woman told a court as the Woking man who raped her and controlled her life was jailed for 17 years and six months.

Sahil Ali, 21, was deemed a dangerous offender by a judge at Guildford Crown Court, where he was sentenced last month.

In her statement to the court, the victim described how she continued to fear Ali after enduring two years of abuse.

“It is difficult to describe all the ways my life has been affected. Although I know that I have been brave to report what he did to me, I still get recurring thoughts every single day that he will kill me. I see it happening in my mind and it is scary.

“Being on the stand in the same room as him was killing me inside. I was so scared to say everything out loud, having never told anyone these things before, and then having to say them to the court room and knowing that he was listening. I felt a lot of fear, but it was also empowering, to be able to speak about it for the first time.”

Ali used a tracking app to monitor the woman, controlled her money and restricted her contact with family and friends. He also threatened to kill her.

In January 2025, he sent messages warning that he was on his way to her home and would cause a scene if she did not answer. He then sent her a photograph of her front door.

The following day, the woman reported the abuse to police. While she was giving her initial account to officers, Ali began calling and texting her, demanding: “WHY ARE POLICE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE?”

Officers arrested him within 90 minutes of the 999 call. On the way to custody, he asked: “If she drops the case, will it go away?”

Ali declined to answer most questions during his police interview, and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges within 24 hours.

He denied all offences but was convicted following a trial of multiple counts of rape, causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, coercive and controlling behaviour, threats to kill, blackmail, threatening to disclose private images and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ali will serve at least two-thirds of his prison sentence before being considered for release, with a further five years on extended licence.

The court also imposed an indefinite restraining order protecting the victim and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Investigating officer DC Cummins praised the woman’s courage and resilience throughout the investigation and trial.

“The victim has displayed incredible courage in coming forward and reporting these offences,” the officer said.

“The process of bringing a case to court is not without its challenges, but she faced each one of them down and showed great resilience in continuing to support the investigation all the way through to conviction, along with the invaluable support of her Sexual Offences Liaison Officer, DC Hughes.

“Her abuser is a truly dangerous offender, but now he is behind bars, and the victim is finally able to move forward with her life. I hope she finds the peace and freedom she deserves.”

Advice and an online reporting form for victims of sexual offences are available on the Surrey Police website.