Friday 16 September 2011

Rapist Jailed For Italian Tourist's Ordeal


A multiple rapist who held an Italian tourist for two weeks at a suburban house – forcing her to have sex with a string of mystery visitors – has been jailed for sixteen years.

Stefan Cardei, 37, (pic.top) of Kings Drive, Edgware, North London was renting the property and told the victim she had to provide sex in exchange for staying at the accommodation.

He fled after police were tipped-off by the woman’s worried family and a second suspect, 25 year-old Florentin Nechita (pic.bottom) is still on the run.

Cardei was convicted at Harrow Crown Court on five counts of rape and one of false imprisonment, committed in November, 2007.

Police received a call from a member of the victim’s family in Italy on November 27, 2007 reporting concerns for her welfare.



Officers attended the address and spoke to the victim, who was on holiday from Italy, through an interpreter.



She said that she had gone to stay at the property with her boyfriend and had then been held against her will, beaten and raped on numerous occasions over a two-week period.

Other men also attended the address and raped her.

Cardei was arrested on the same day in connection with the investigation and later bailed pending a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.

He failed to attend the police station on his bail date and fled to Italy, returning to the UK and arrested again on February 13, this year.

Detective Constable Anthony Stanton of Sapphire said: “I am pleased that today’s sentence goes someway to getting justice for the victim who was held against her will and subjected to nightly attacks by Cardei as ‘payment’ for him giving her somewhere to live.



“The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to solving rape cases and is appealing for information about the whereabouts of Florentin Nechita who we are also keen to speak to as part of this investigation.” 



Anyone with information on Nechita’s whereabouts is asked to call Sapphire on 020 8733 3718 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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