A rapist who fled the country after carrying out a sex attack on a vulnerable teenager outside an Aberdeen nightclub was today jailed for three years and nine months.
Remus Covaciu spent eight years on the run and started a new life in France with a wife and two children before he was extradited to Scotland last year.
He admitted attacking his then 18-year-old victim in Aberdeen while she was under the influence of alcohol and incapable of consenting on January 19 in 2013.
A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You are a first offender and were 19 years old when this offence occurred. You are now 28 year of age.”
Lady Drummond said: “You raped a young woman while she was so intoxicated as to be incapable of refusing or giving consent.
“This young woman was a stranger to you before you committed this offence. You took advantage of her vulnerability for your own sexual gratification.”
The judge said: “I have read the victim impact statement from the complainer. It is apparent from that that your crime has had a profound impact on her. The delay caused by your departure has prolonged her suffering.”
Lady Drummond said that in sentencing Covaciu she took into account his age at the time of the crime and treated him more leniently than if he was an adult offender.
The judge told him: “Having regard to the seriousness of the offences of which you have been convicted a custodial sentence is the only one open to me.”
Covaciu, who was living in the Torry area of Aberdeen when he committed rape at the city’s Bridge Place, also admitted failing to appear for a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2013 and breaching bail conditions requiring him to sign in at a police station.
The victim had gone to a friend’s birthday party and to the Institute nightclub in the city.
A CCTV operator alerted police to the victim in the street. Covaciu was caught on camera being pushed away by his victim.
Prosecutor John McElroy said when officers arrived she was intoxicated and in a dishevelled state.
Covaciu was traced to a nearby shop by police. He was allowed bail following an initial court hearing but left the country.
Defence solicitor advocate Iain McSporran QC said: “He hopes upon his release he will be able to continue his family life. He accepts he must be punished.”
He asked the judge to take into account Covaciu’s age at the time of the offence and pointed out that many years have now passed without further offending.
Covaciu was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Beattie said: “We welcome the guilty plea from Remus Covaciu, who took advantage of a vulnerable young female, and will now face the consequences of his actions.
“This conviction shows that no matter the length of time since a crime has been committed, you will be taken to court.
“The only person to blame for sexual offending is the perpetrator and we will continue to carry out detailed and thorough investigations into rape and sexual crime.”
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