MARIYAN GRUDEV SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND ATTEMPTED RAPE IN WARRINGTON

A man identified as Mariyan Grudev has been sentenced to a life prison term after being convicted of the brutal crimes of rape and attempted rape committed in Warrington. The sentencing took place at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, 6 February, where Grudev, formerly residing on Thelwall Lane in Latchford, Warrington, received a minimum term of 14 years before he could be considered for parole. This significant ruling followed a guilty plea from Grudev to one count of attempted rape, and a subsequent conviction on a separate count of rape after a trial held in July 2024.

The criminal acts in question spanned over several years, with the most recent incident occurring in the early hours of Saturday, 29 July 2023. At approximately 3:10 am, a woman was walking along Winwick Road in Warrington when she was approached by an unknown man. According to reports, the man began to follow her closely, and then suddenly grabbed her from behind. He attempted to drag her into nearby bushes, an assault that could have resulted in severe harm. Fortunately, the woman managed to break free from her attacker and escaped without physical injury. She then sought assistance from a passing taxi driver, who helped her contact the authorities.

Following this distressing incident, Cheshire Police launched a media appeal, releasing a CCTV image of the suspect in hopes of identifying him. The effort proved successful when Grudev was confirmed as the individual in the footage. He was arrested on Sunday, 30 July 2023, and subsequently charged with attempted rape on Tuesday, 1 August 2023.

Further investigations revealed that Grudev was linked to a previous similar incident in Warrington. On Sunday, 22 December 2019, a woman returning home after a night out in Warrington town centre was approached by a man at around 2:20 am. The victim, who was walking back to her residence, was unable to recall the exact details of the encounter but reported feeling pain and believed she had been raped. Forensic analysis at the time did not yield any DNA matches or conclusive evidence. However, after Grudev’s arrest in 2023, authorities tested his DNA against evidence from the 2019 case, which resulted in a match. This led to his formal charge of rape in November 2023.

As part of his sentencing, Grudev will not only serve a lengthy prison term but will also be required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities following his release. The case highlights the persistent threat posed by sexual offenders in Warrington and underscores the importance of law enforcement efforts to bring such individuals to justice.