STEFAN KELEMAN SENTENCED IN HERTFORDSHIRE FOR HORRIFIC HATFIELD ATTACK
A man described as a 'vile' offender has been sentenced to over six years in prison following a brutal and horrifying assault that took place in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.Stefan Keleman, aged 46 and residing on Campion Road in Hatfield, appeared before St Albans Crown Court on Monday, November 13, where he was convicted of raping and assaulting a woman in a manner that has shocked the local community.
His sentence includes six years and nine months of imprisonment.
Beyond his time behind bars, Keleman has been subjected to a restraining order, which prohibits him from approaching or contacting the victim, and he has been placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Furthermore, upon completion of his sentence, he will be deported back to Romania, his country of origin, as part of the court’s ruling.
The incident in question occurred on the night of Sunday, June 18.
At approximately 11:30 pm, Keleman was seen engaging in a brief conversation with a woman in the car park of the local Asda supermarket.
Following this encounter, he proceeded to follow her into the town centre of Hatfield.
The situation escalated rapidly when Keleman assaulted the woman by punching her in the back of the head and then pinning her to the ground.
The attack turned even more violent as Keleman subjected the woman to a rape, all the while continuing his assault by hitting, punching, and biting her.
The assault was only halted when a police officer arrived at the scene, intervening just in time to prevent further harm.
Detective Constable Jarl Thomason, who is part of the Sexual Offences Investigation Team, described Keleman’s actions as those of a 'vile individual' who showed complete disregard for the victim’s dignity and safety.
He emphasized that Keleman’s attack was carried out against a stranger he had only briefly met, highlighting the brutality of the crime.
Detective Thomason expressed his admiration for the victim’s resilience throughout the legal process and hoped that the sentence would serve as a form of justice.
The detective also extended gratitude to a local resident who witnessed the incident and promptly contacted the police, which was crucial in apprehending Keleman.
While incidents of this nature are rare in Hertfordshire, Detective Thomason acknowledged the lasting trauma inflicted on the victim and reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to combating violence against women and girls.
He assured the public that the authorities are dedicated to tackling such crimes and that the prison sentence should offer some reassurance that justice is being served.
