Colchester sex attacker who fled country sentenced

COLCHESTER SEX ATTACKER WHO FLED COUNTRY SENTENCED

A MAN has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Colchester, despite having left the country.

Arjun Rajan, of Affleck Road in Colchester, followed his 33-year-old victim after seeing her walking home at in the early hours of a July 2022 morning.

Believing he was a taxi driver, the woman entered Rajan’s car and was subsequently sexually assaulted by him.

Following his arrest and charging, Rajan fled the country and is currently subject to a warrant for arrest.

On Tuesday October 7 of this year, a jury found him guilty of the sexual assault in his absence and on December 4 he was sentenced to eight years in prison, as well as being added to the sex offenders’ register for life and being given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jade Lawton said: “The woman in this case has continued to show remarkable strength as this case reached its conclusion.

She has supported our work consistently since this began more than three years ago, and I cannot thank her enough for that commitment.

Every interview, appointment and court hearing requires courage on her part and she has faced them all as well as delays to this trial, made longer after Rajan fled the country.

Despite the distress this caused she waited months longer to give evidence in court with dignity and help secure this conviction.

Rajan took advantage of a vulnerable woman alone after an evening in Colchester.

He had the opportunity at every stage of this offence to leave this woman alone or to go home and he never took this.

He deceived her, assaulted her, and the judge was left with no choice but to impose a lengthy custodial sentence.

Our work with law enforcement partners internationally is ongoing and we remain committed to ensuring Rajan faces justice.”