Serial rapist sentenced to 22 years in prison for attacks in West Springfield

A Hampden County Superior Court judge sentenced a man to 22 years in prison Tuesday for a string of violent rapes in West Springfield.

Ali Ghaffar, 23, of West Springfield pleaded guilty to attacking six women in 2021 and early 2022.

Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett described those nine months as Ghaffar's "reign of terror." Ghaffar coaxed women into his car in Springfield's South End neighborhood by offering a ride, drugs or money, and instead drove them to secluded areas of West Springfield and raped them. After the attacks, Ghaffar left the women stranded in the dark near schools, or under the I-90 overpass by Bear Hole.

All six victims spoke or provided statements. Some said Ghaffar chose them as victims because they were drug addicted or involved in prostitution and he thought no one would care about what happened to them.

"We are not the weak, unloved victims Ali Ghaffar thought we would be," one woman said in her testimony.

The survivors testified that the violent attacks caused them to have nightmares or relapse into addiction. Still, all of them were able to assist in the years-long prosecution.

After the hearing, West Springfield Police Chief Jay Gearing praised the women for speaking out.

"In my 28 years, it's been one of the larger cases we've encountered,” Gearing said.  "I'm very proud of the victims."

Ghaffar, wearing a yellow hoodie, stared straight ahead as victims spoke, rather than looking at them. He said nothing during the sentencing hearing.

Bennett asked Judge David Hodge for a sentence of at least 36 years. Hodge noted Ghaffar had no prior criminal record and accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to 30 charges including aggravated rape, assault and kidnapping.

Ghaffar will receive credit for the nearly three years he has already served in jail since his arrest in 2022.