Friday 5 March 2010

Indian Illegal Overstayer Raped And Threatened To Kill Vulnerable Woman



An Indian overstayer, who brutally raped a 44 year-old woman with learning difficulties - snatched from outside a shop as her friend bought cigarettes and subjected to a 90 minute ordeal - was locked up for 8 years today (Friday).


"She was outside a shop waiting for her companion when you carried or dragged her to an alley and raped her," Judge Timothy Stow QC told Punjabi-born Raja Chandi, 27, at Croydon Crown Court.


"This must have been a terrifying attack and ordeal for her," added the Judge who also recommended Chandi for deportation. "She screamed and your reaction was to not only punch and hit her repeatedly, but you also threatened to kill her."


Jobless Chandi, of London Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, pleaded guilty to raping the victim in nearby Collier's Water Lane, on July 28, last year plus a count of assault by penetration, relating to an oral sex act he performed on her, receiving two years' imprisonment to run concurrently with with the 8-year rape sentence.


A previous complaint that Chandi (pictured) raped a young woman on a mattress after she was persuaded into his home was dropped, allowing the defendant his freedom to carry out this attack.


Afterwards Detective Inspector Jackie Wakeford-Smith said: "We are very, very pleaded with this result. He is a very dangerous man."


Prosecutor Miss Tana Adkin told the court the victim's friend thought she had walked home when he left the shop at midnight and she wasn't there.


"Mr. Chandi had come up behind her, grabbed her and took her to the alleyway. She screamed and Mr. Chandi punched her in the face and told her if she continued screaming he would kill her.


"She did scream again and he punched her to the face and body inflicting two black eyes as well as injuries she received to both cheekbones, her back, knees and shoulders."


Chandi pulled down the victim's trousers and raped her, leaving tell-tale DNA evidence. He was arrested on August 21 and tried to convince police the victim was a £10 a time prostitute.


Chandi's lawyer Miss Tanya Ossack said: "He came to this country to better himself and send money home. He was sent by his family, but has failed in every respect and now committed a heinous crime."


Judge Stow told Chandi: "She was a vulnerable lady with learning difficulties....She says she cannot get the image of your face out of her mind and will be haunted by this for the rest of her life."


The victim bravely attended court to see Chandi caged and her companion shouted "scum" at the defendant as he was led to the cells.

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