A rapist who pounced on a 'heavily intoxicated' woman as she walked home from a night out has been jailed.
Remus Hamza, 40, grabbed the 20-year-old woman as she walked in Cardiff city centre at around 2am on September 20 last year.
Hamza forced the woman behind National Museum Cardiff before raping her behind a bush as she returned hom from Pryzm nightclub.
Wales Online reports the Romanian national was found guilty after a trial at Newport Crown Court and has now been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
The attack was interrupted when witness Lee Neale took a picture of Hamza on top of the woman, after he had become concerned and followed them.
Hamza denied raping the woman and claimed the sex was consensual but this was rejected by the jury.
WNS
Sentencing Judge David Wynn Morgan told Hamza, who remained emotionless in the dock, he was a “dangerous offender”.
He added: “In the early hours on the morning of September 20 last year, you were lurking in the Museum Avenue area behind City Hall in Cardiff.
“In light of your previous history there is only one conceivable explanation for you being there at that time.
“You were waiting there hoping that a lone inebriated female would make her way in your direction so you could take advantage of her.
“That’s exactly what you did when (the woman) staggered into your vision.
“You didn’t know who she was, you didn’t know anything about her and you didn’t know her name.
“All you cared about was having sexual intercourse and you chose her because she was extremely drunk and plainly had no idea what was going on.”
Judge Morgan told the court the details of Hamza’s previous conviction for exposure when performed a sex act in front of three women near the museum on February 2, 2014.
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He added: “You are a dangerous offender. I make that judgement on the basis that I as trial judge had the opportunity to hear your evidence during this court case, particularly the holy implausible account that you offered to the jury for your conduct in this case.
“Your victim was particularly vulnerable due to her particular circumstances and as far as culpability is concerned there is a significant degree of planning here.”
Hamza, of Neville Street, Riverside, Cardiff, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
He was made subject to an extended sentence which could see him released on parole after eight years, if the parole board decides he is safe to be released into the community.
He will remain on licence until 2032, and will remain on the sex offenders register for life, as well as being made subject to a sexual offences prevention order.
Speaking after the trial Detective Inspector Ian Bourne, of South Wales Police , said: “Remus Hamza is a dangerous predatory offender who deliberately targeted a vulnerable young woman, who was making her way home from a night out in Cardiff city centre.
“The jury took just 20 minutes to return a guilty verdict and the sentence he has been given reflects the gravity of the offence.
“We sincerely hope that today’s outcome at Newport Crown Court will allow the victim to move on from this horrific ordeal.
“We would also like to thank the public for their support during our investigation and the witnesses who played a key role in assisting us in bringing this individual to justice.”
Superintendent Andy Valentine, head of operational policing in Cardiff, said: “Cardiff detectives worked tirelessly to bring Hamza to justice reflecting our commitment to protecting women and young girls from violence, and to keeping our capital safe.
“South Wales Police takes all reports of sexual violence extremely seriously and, with the Police and Crime Commissioner, continue to work with partners to make tackling this type of crime a priority as part of our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.”
The Mirror
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