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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somerset man who raped stranger jailed | Somerset man who raped stranger jailed |
| (2 days later) | |
| Alin-Vasile Lercosan was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 21 April | Alin-Vasile Lercosan was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 21 April |
| A man has been handed a seven-year prison sentence for ambushing a 25-year-old stranger as she walked home and raping her. | A man has been handed a seven-year prison sentence for ambushing a 25-year-old stranger as she walked home and raping her. |
| Alin-Vasile Lercosan, 27, of Bath Road, Bridgwater, carried out the attack in a parking area off Friarn Street in the town, early on 28 January. | Alin-Vasile Lercosan, 27, of Bath Road, Bridgwater, carried out the attack in a parking area off Friarn Street in the town, early on 28 January. |
| In a personal statement to the court, the woman said no sentence could "ever justify" what he did to her. | In a personal statement to the court, the woman said no sentence could "ever justify" what he did to her. |
| Lercosan pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Friday. | Lercosan pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Friday. |
| The victim said she had attended the sentencing at Taunton Crown Court to "try and regain some control after you stole it all from me". | The victim said she had attended the sentencing at Taunton Crown Court to "try and regain some control after you stole it all from me". |
| "I'm begging that today will bring me a tiny amount of closure," she added. | "I'm begging that today will bring me a tiny amount of closure," she added. |
| 'Predatory behaviour' | 'Predatory behaviour' |
| DI Hadley Rides of Operation Soteria Bluestone, the specialist team tackling rape and serious sexual assault, was in charge of the investigation. | DI Hadley Rides of Operation Soteria Bluestone, the specialist team tackling rape and serious sexual assault, was in charge of the investigation. |
| He said the CCTV obtained "chillingly shows the predatory behaviour of Lercosan". | He said the CCTV obtained "chillingly shows the predatory behaviour of Lercosan". |
| "He waited on the streets of Bridgwater and deliberately followed and attacked a lone woman." | "He waited on the streets of Bridgwater and deliberately followed and attacked a lone woman." |
| DI Rides said Lercosan had admitted his crime early on in the court proceedings due to the "overwhelming evidence against him". | DI Rides said Lercosan had admitted his crime early on in the court proceedings due to the "overwhelming evidence against him". |
| "[And] the strength and determination" of the young woman helped get the offender "off our streets". | "[And] the strength and determination" of the young woman helped get the offender "off our streets". |
| "She stood up in court today and faced the man who attacked her... [and has] shown herself to be much stronger than Lercosan, who fled the country after the attack to try to evade justice." | "She stood up in court today and faced the man who attacked her... [and has] shown herself to be much stronger than Lercosan, who fled the country after the attack to try to evade justice." |
| The woman has been supported by an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor throughout the investigation and court process, and has ongoing access to support services. | The woman has been supported by an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor throughout the investigation and court process, and has ongoing access to support services. |
| Lercosan also faces an extended licence and a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order. | Lercosan also faces an extended licence and a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Bridgwater | Bridgwater |