Serial rapist jailed for attack on woman one week after arriving in UK
Mihai Roban had two previous convictions for rape in his home country.
Thursday 24 September 2020 19:09, UK
A serial rapist who attacked a woman one week after arriving in the UK has been jailed.
Mihai Roban, 47, had two previous convictions for rape in his home country of Romania before he flew to Britain at the beginning of this year.
One week after he landed, in the early hours of 20 January, he targeted a 28-year-old woman as she walked home from a bar in Finchley, north London, the Metropolitan Police said.
On Thursday at Harrow Crown Court, he was jailed for seven years and eight months and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.
The court heard how he grabbed his victim and forced her behind a public toilet, before her cries were heard by a passer-by who raised the alarm.
Detective Sergeant Michael Daly, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "Roban had only been in the country for a week when he carried out this attack.
"When we conducted inquiries with police in his home country of Romania we discovered that he had two previous convictions for rape and prison is the right place for him.
"He maintained his innocence until the week before the trial was due to start, which brought further anguish to his victim.
"The victim has been incredibly strong throughout the investigation and I hope that knowing Roban will be in prison for some time will help her to move on from her horrible ordeal.
"I also wish to thank the member of the public for doing the right thing and calling the police when they heard the victim's calls for help."