Man convicted of rape – Taunton

A man has been convicted of raping a woman in her twenties at her home in Taunton, following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

On Friday 30 October the jury returned a majority verdict finding Ayman Al-Shammari, 28, described in court as a Kuwaiti national living in Taunton, guilty of one count of rape.

The jury heard that Al-Shammari, pictured above, had known the woman for a few weeks, having met her on a night out, and they had slept together once.

On Friday 14 November 2025, he tried to persuade her to come out for the evening and when she wouldn’t, convinced her to let him come to her home.

After a few drinks he asked to stay the night and she agreed to let him sleep on the sofa, telling him they were just friends.

The court was told Al-Shammari went to the woman’s room and they did start to have consensual sex, but the woman later told police she was feeling “more and more uncomfortable”. She said she asked him to stop but he did not.

The woman managed to unlock her phone and record what was happening. The jury heard the recording in which the woman says “no” and “I don’t like it”. She is described as sounding in pain, upset and crying.

In his police interview, Al-Shammari denied rape, telling officers the woman had wanted sex but that the positions they tried hurt her so he stopped.

He was remanded into custody pending a sentencing hearing on 27 November.

Avon and Somerset Police has a specialist sexual offences investigation team, known as Bluestone, which was involved in this case. The team recognises the impact of sexual offences on survivors and acknowledges the courage and strength shown by this woman.

Rape is a crime which often happens behind closed doors, leaving a jury to decide which of the two people is telling the truth. This is an unusual case as the survivor provided key evidence by recording the attack. 

Avon and Somerset Police remain committed to thoroughly investigating reports of sexual offences, supporting victims, and pursuing offenders through the criminal justice system.

The circumstances of this case highlight the importance of consent in sexual relationships. No means no, whether you’ve had consensual sex before or not. If you have any doubt about their consent, stop.