TOTTENHAM MAN JAILED FOR ATTACKING AND RAPING WOMAN IN SOMERSET
A man from Tottenham, Ioan Bucatariu, aged 23, was sentenced to six years in prison for attacking and raping a young woman in Somerset.He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape at Taunton Crown Court.
The incident occurred at 1.30am on July 5 when Bucatariu approached the woman, sat beside her, and put his arm around her neck so tightly she blacked out, according to prosecutor Caroline Bolt.
When she regained consciousness, he forcibly took her into a darkened area of a car park and raped her.
Bucatariu then instructed her to lie down and forced her to perform a sex act before attempting to get her to repeat it.
The victim pleaded with him to stop, and he told her to get dressed and remain quiet, then left.
Investigations traced him back to London through her phone signal, CCTV footage, and a mobile phone found during a raid at his home.
Despite claiming to police that he was at a nightclub and denying involvement in any sexual activity, DNA evidence linked him to the crime with a one in a billion probability.
Bucatariu had previously served three and a half years for robbery in 2004.
His defense argued he was remorseful, describing him as 'riddled with remorse' and 'exhibiting manifested shame.' Judge Stephen O'Malley sentenced him to concurrent sentences, and he is also likely to face deportation after serving his term.
The victim described her life as 'completely changed' after the attack, feeling paranoid and insecure, prompting her to move from her flat and avoid leaving her house.
She expressed her desire for Bucatariu to be imprisoned and deported, emphasizing the severe impact on her confidence and well-being.
