ANTONIO DE ALVES FLED RUGELEY TO BRAZIL AFTER CHILD RAPE CHARGES IN STAFFORDSHIRE

In May 2017, authorities revealed that Antonio De Alves, a man originally from Rugeley, Staffordshire, who was wanted for serious crimes involving a minor, had been located and detained in Brazil after a lengthy international manhunt. Alves, aged 45 at the time, had previously been convicted in his absence of raping an 11-year-old girl in January 2012, a crime he committed after deceiving her online by posing as a teenage boy.

Alves had initially denied the charges and was granted bail during his trial scheduled for May 2013 at Stafford Crown Court. However, before the trial could commence, he absconded, fleeing the UK and heading to France. A European Arrest Warrant was issued to apprehend him, but Alves did not surrender himself. Instead, he traveled further afield, eventually settling in Brazil, where he remarried and fathered a child, living a seemingly normal life in Rio de Janeiro.

Staffordshire Police collaborated with international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and Brazilian authorities, to track Alves down. Their efforts bore fruit in September 2014 when Alves was located in Rio de Janeiro, approximately 6,000 miles from his original residence. His arrest was carried out by the Brazilian Federal Police, and he was subsequently imprisoned locally. Alves claimed he had been subjected to torture while in custody in Brazil, but this did not prevent his extradition back to the UK last month.

Upon his return, Alves was taken into custody and appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he admitted to breaching his bail conditions. He was sentenced to an additional six months in prison, to run concurrently with his original 11-year sentence for the rape conviction. Throughout the hearing, Alves remained emotionless, dressed in a grey hoodie and transparent sunglasses, with a shaven head and goatee beard.

Judge John Wait addressed Alves directly, recalling his previous court appearance on April 16, 2013, when he pleaded not guilty to the rape of an 11-year-old girl. The judge emphasized Alves’ deliberate attempt to evade justice, noting that he had been seen at a channel crossing on CCTV and had left Europe for South America after his conviction. The judge highlighted the distress caused to the victim, who had been left wondering about Alves’ whereabouts for four years, and condemned Alves’ lengthy and determined efforts to avoid responsibility.

The case originated from Alves’ online grooming of the young girl, whom he contacted via the social media platform Bebo. Posing as a 15-year-old sports enthusiast, Alves built a relationship with her over several months before arranging to meet in December 2011 at a supermarket car park in Cannock, Staffordshire. When she arrived, Alves falsely claimed to be a relative of the supposed 15-year-old boy, but her suspicions grew, and she attempted to flee. Alves then forcibly pulled her into his car, where the assault occurred. The girl reported the attack to police in December 2011, leading to Alves’ arrest in January 2012 and the seizure of his electronic devices.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, Alves was granted bail, which he exploited to flee abroad. An international arrest warrant was issued, but he managed to evade capture for over four years. His escape was facilitated by his residence in Rugeley, Staffordshire, and his ability to slip through the legal system, ultimately residing in Brazil, where he married and started a family. The victim’s mother expressed her frustration, criticizing the slow police response and the decision to grant Alves bail, especially given his status as a foreign national with the means to escape.

In a related development, a 17-year-old girl, who was the victim in the original case, is now considering hiring a private detective to locate Alves. Her mother revealed that the girl, who was 12 at the time of the assault, is still haunted by the unresolved case and the fact that Alves remains at large. The girl plans to use funds from her upcoming compensation payout to finance the investigation, hoping to bring her attacker to justice. The mother voiced her disappointment with the police’s lack of recent updates, despite Alves’ conviction and the international warrant issued for his arrest.

Staffordshire Police issued a statement confirming ongoing efforts to locate Alves, emphasizing their cooperation with foreign authorities and the importance of legal procedures in extradition. They reassured the victim’s family that they are committed to pursuing Alves and bringing him to justice. Anyone with information about Alves’ current whereabouts is urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.