Man jailed for raping woman in alleyway in Swindon

A man has been jailed for raping a stranger in Swindon.

Constantin-Robert Munteanu, 46, of Ferndale Road, Swindon, targeted the woman in an alleyway between Gladstone Street and Ponting Street shortly before midnight on January 12 this year.

The incident was reported to the police via a charity and Munteanu was swiftly identified, arrested and charged with two counts of rape. He was remanded into custody.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and at a hearing at Swindon Crown Court today (04/04), he was jailed for six years, reduced from nine due to an early guilty plea.

He will also be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

T/DC Elizabeth Storrar, of Swindon CID, said: “First and foremost, I’d like to thank and pay tribute to the victim in this case.

“Acknowledging and reporting what has happened can be very difficult for survivors of sexual offences, but because of her courage, women are now safer on the streets of Swindon.

“This investigation was a good example of multi-agency work between Swindon Police and outside organisations, which is vital for bringing dangerous offenders like Munteanu to justice.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, know that there are other agencies and charities who can support you through a police investigation, such as First Light and their Independent Sexual Violence Advisors.”

If you think you have been the victim of a sexual assault, we are here to support you. There's no right way to feel or act if you've been raped or sexually assaulted. What you do is up to you. But here are some things you might want to do or think about first.

• Make sure you are safe
• Get help and support - you can find support agencies here
• If the incident happened recently, it may be possible to collect forensic evidence that could help the case. Forensic evidence means something that the offender might have left behind that could help us prove what happened. It's always your choice whether to report it to the police. But if you're not sure, you can keep your options open by protecting forensic evidence. More about forensic evidence in rape and sexual assault

• If you're worried about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, find sexual health services via the NHS.
• We know deciding to report rape and sexual assault can be difficult. What to do is always your choice. We've put together some information that might help you decide whether reporting is right for you.