Man jailed for life for rape and violent assault in Bedford

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for a series of violent assaults and the rape of a woman while he was living in Bedford.

Jamal Jeng, aged 28, was convicted in October 2025 of rape, strangulation and assault following a number of incidents that took place over several months. The court heard that Jeng repeatedly attacked the victim before carrying out the rape.

The investigation was led by detectives from Bedfordshire Police’s specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team.

Jeng, of Medhurst in Milton Keynes, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday 9 January. He will serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole.

Passing sentence, the judge said there was no doubt Jeng had carried out a campaign of escalating abuse, driven by a need for power and control.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said the attacks had changed her life forever. She told the court she would never return to the person she was before the abuse and that the impact of what happened would stay with her for the rest of her life.

Detective Constable Stefania Digirolamo, who led the investigation, described the case as a shocking series of attacks that culminated in a brutal rape. She praised the bravery of the victim, saying her evidence was crucial in securing a significant sentence for a violent and abusive offender.

Bedfordshire Police say they take a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls and continue to urge victims to come forward, reassuring them they will be treated with dignity, respect and supported throughout the process.