A 37-year-old man was given a 15-year prison sentence for raping a lady who responded to his room-for-rent post.
Ion Cojan, formerly of Northampton, assaulted a woman at Delapre Park in Northampton in 2019 after advertising a room for rent in his home online.
They decided to meet on the 17th of February in Northampton’s town center.
Northamptonshire Police report that the woman agreed to meet Cojan for coffee, but he instead drove to Delapre Park, parked near the lake on Ransome Road, and assaulted her in the rear of his vehicle before returning her to the town center.
After the woman reported the incident to the police, an investigation was initiated that included interviewing potential witnesses, evaluating the man’s profile on the room-sharing service, and examining CCTV and ANPR cameras.
The police recognized Cojan as the suspect, and he was detained and charged with aggravated sexual assault.
In September, following a trial at Northampton Crown Court, he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail on Thursday of this week.
Ion Cojan, 37, assaulted the woman in the trunk of his vehicle after agreeing to meet her to discuss renting a place.
In 2019, Cojan committed the offense by advertising a room for rent on his home (stock image)
Detective Constable David Burrage, the lead investigator, stated, “While no punishment can make up for the anguish Ion Cojan put this woman through, I am ecstatic for her that he is now facing a lengthy sentence.”
“Throughout our investigation and the court proceedings, she has demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve, and I hope that the completion of this case will allow her to move on to better things.”
She can take pride in the fact that her bravery has resulted in a rapist being imprisoned and unable to harm anybody else.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Northamptonshire Police, and I hope this case demonstrates that we take these matters very seriously and will do everything we can to put the perpetrators behind bars.”
When Cojan was found guilty of the crime on September 21, he praised the victim for her courage in pursuing the police investigation.
He stated, “I am ecstatic that Ion Cojan was convicted guilty of this heinous crime, and I want to commend the survivor for her extraordinary bravery.
We never underestimate how much guts it takes to disclose a sexual offense to the police, but this woman has supported our inquiry from the beginning, a lengthy and, I’m sure, stressful procedure.
Northamptonshire Police issued a statement stating, “We take accusations of sexual assault extremely seriously and will treat all calls and reports with the compassion and secrecy they deserve.”
We will believe you, we will support you, and we will do everything in our power to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable for their crimes.
It was noted that the specifics of the crime had been publicized with the full support of the victim.