Two Men Jailed 14 Years for Shocking Farnham Library Rape
Two men have been slammed with 14-year jail sentences each after being found guilty of raping a woman outside Farnham Library in December 2018.
Attack Caught on CCTV, Public Tips Lead to Arrests
Nicolae Dragoi, 42, of Crondall Lane, and Constantin Ionescu, 36, of Station Hill, followed their victim along West Street in the early hours of Sunday, 9 December 2018. They assaulted her near the library before a passerby raised the alarm. Both men fled, leaving the woman injured on the ground.
Surrey Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT) launched a full-scale probe, using extensive CCTV footage from around the area. A media appeal displaying CCTV images brought in key info from the public, leading to Ionescu’s arrest on 17 December and Dragoi’s the next day. Forensic DNA matched both men to the victim.
Justice Served After Two-Week Trial
The pair were sentenced today, Monday 24 January, at Guildford Crown Court following a gruelling two-week trial.
“This was a predatory attack on a woman who was actively targeted,” said Detective Inspector Adam Tatton from SOIT. “They chased her through Farnham town centre and assaulted her once isolated. The victim’s bravery throughout the investigation led to these convictions. Had they escaped justice, these men would have posed a serious threat to others.”
Inspector Gary Smith, Waverley Borough Commander, added: “This crime caused huge concern locally. We thank the media and the public for their vital role in securing these convictions. Farnham’s community showed incredible strength and helped bring the attackers to justice.”
