ANCELET MAYELA OF OXFORD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND RAPE

Anicet Mayela, formerly residing on Desborough Crescent in Oxford, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, March 13, charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual activity with a child. It is alleged that the 41-year-old committed rape on a woman in Oxford between 2016 and 2016. He is also accused of engaging in sexual activity with a child during the same period.

Mayela’s case was scheduled for court after his initial hearing last month, as the offence is indictable only. He appeared during a mention hearing at the court.

His case has now been adjourned until April 15 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

In addition, he was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl while intoxicated, an incident that resulted in the girl becoming pregnant. Despite his guilty plea in April, Mayela has since claimed innocence. He previously attempted to withdraw his plea, but this was rejected by a judge in September.

Judge Maria Lamb, when passing sentence on Tuesday, told Mayela that he had committed "a terrible offence." He attacked the girl while drunk in December 2023. The judge sentenced him to ten years and ten months in prison and imposed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Lamb stated, "For her, it was her first sexual experience, and the misery that you caused to that child who became pregnant as a result must have been extreme."

"You continued to deny your offence. Your sentence will be no longer because of that, but you do not have the benefit of remorse, and she does not have the support and assistance of knowing that you acknowledge your guilt," she added.

Regarding the victim impact statement, Judge Lamb highlighted, "She is a remarkable young woman who, despite everything that has happened to her and everything that you did to her, has found it possible to forgive you."

Prosecutor Edward Lucas told the judge that the teenage victim had an abortion in the months following the assault.

Mayela was first interviewed by police on March 13 this year, during which he made "full admissions" but denied using force on the complainant.

He appeared in court dressed in a grey tracksuit typical of prisoners and was assisted by a French interpreter during the hearing.

Several family members watched from the public gallery as he received his sentence.

It is noted that Mayela was granted asylum in the UK in 2010 after several unsuccessful attempts to deport him.