Scarborough rapist Alexandru Calin jailed - he was spared prison a year earlier for sexual assault on another lone female

A rapist has been jailed for nine years and faces deportation after attacking a woman in her own home – just a year after attacking another lone female.
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Alexandru Calin’s victim is now a virtual recluse, suffering from “severe” psychological trauma and seeing a counsellor following her dreadful ordeal at the hands of her tormentor.

He was already on the sex-offenders’ register for sexually assaulting another woman in Scarborough in 2018 – just three weeks after he arrived in the country from his native Romania.

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The “particularly vulnerable” rape victim was targeted by Calin, 28, about 12 months after Scarborough magistrates spared him prison for the first attack on the other woman, York Crown Court heard.

Alexandru CalinAlexandru Calin
Alexandru Calin

In October 2018, Calin was given an 18-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, placed on the sex-offenders’ register and told he must inform police if he changed address.

But just a few weeks after his suspended sentence elapsed in October last year, Calin moved to a different property in Scarborough without notifying police. About a week later, he targeted the rape victim who was drunk and trying to find a taxi home.

Prosecutor Paul Abrahams said the victim, who was in her 40s, had been out for a drink with a friend and was making her way home alone when Calin approached her outside a casino in Scarborough town centre in the early hours of October 27.

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“She set off (for) home… at about 3am or 4am but… she met the defendant on the street and he agreed to help her home,” added Mr Abrahams.

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Calin tried to kiss her as they walked through a cemetery, but she pulled away and told him no.

When she returned home, Calin wormed his way inside. She made them both a drink and was about to see him out of the door when he tried to kiss her “forcefully”.

He then “forced himself on top of her” and raped her. The victim pleaded with him to stop and tried to push him off, but Calin was too strong for her and allegedly carried on the attack.

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The woman alleged that he raped her a second time, but her recollection was hazy and the prosecution ultimately offered no evidence on the second allegation because of a lack of proof.

The terrified woman, who was “extremely upset and crying”, called police who arrived at her home 15 minutes later to find her “in a state of shock”.

Police trawled through CCTV footage from across the town and soon identified Calin who was arrested within 24 hours.

Officers also found incriminating DNA evidence which ultimately resulted in him changing his plea to guilty on the rape charge after his initial denials, when he claimed that “everything was consensual”. He admitted breaching police notification requirements at a previous hearing.

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Calin, previously of Crown Terrace, Scarborough, appeared for sentence via video link on Monday.

The victim said the attack had had a “massive” effect on her and her family, and turned her into a virtual recluse.

She said that before the incident she was a “very outgoing, confident person” but now she rarely socialised due to the devastating effects on her physical and mental health.

She had sought professional help and had to take time off work which had had depleted her finances.

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Calin’s original sentence in October 2018 was suspended by magistrates despite hearing evidence that he effectively stalked the first victim in the street before sexually assaulting her.

On September 30 of that year, the lone female victim was walking home at night in Scarborough when Calin ran up behind her.

“The victim was unaware of his presence as she had headphones on and was listening to music very loudly,” said Mr Abrahams.

“The victim walked into the gardens at the bottom of (Scarborough) town hall and… a person suddenly comes up from behind her and grabs her from behind in a tight, bearhug manner. He was holding her so tightly and (so) close that she could feel (his) breath on her neck.”

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The victim “screamed and shouted” as Calin sexually assaulted her without saying a word.

Defence barrister Timothy Jacobs said Calin was likely to be deported after his inevitable lengthy jail sentence.

Calin’s recollection of the rape was “not good” because he too had been drinking, but he had now expressed remorse - albeit late in the day.

Judge Simon Hickey said Calin was a danger to women who had left the victim with “severe” psychological harm.

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Calin was given a nine-year jail sentence, of which he will serve at least two-thirds behind bars, although the Parole Board will assess when he is safe to be released. Even then, he will have to serve an extended three-year period on licence, giving a total sentence of 12 years.

In addition, Calin was placed on the sex-offenders’ register for life and made subject to a sexual-harm prevention order, which will run indefinitely. The Home Office will deliberate on his removal from the country.

The judge paid tribute to North Yorkshire Police’s fastidious and speedy handling of the case, reserving special praise for Detective Inspector Jonathan Sygrove and Detective Sergeant John Owens to whom he would be sending letters of commendation for their “thorough” investigative work.

Det Sgt Owens said: “Calin is a dangerous individual who left the victim petrified in her own home. I am pleased that the sentence handed down today reflects the gravity of the offence.

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“This investigation has been a detailed and thorough investigation by the wider CID team and I would like to thank everyone involved for the work they have done to bring Calin to justice.

“No jail sentence can ever undo the suffering that the victim has endured but I want to praise her for having the bravery and strength to come forward and I hope it brings her some comfort that justice has been done, and she can now start to rebuild her life.”

North Yorkshire Police urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, recently or many years ago, to call them on 101.

The force has specially-trained officers who treat victims with sensitivity and are determined to bring those responsible to justice.

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If you are in danger, always call 999 and get to a safe place.

If you do not want to talk to the police, you can also contact the Bridge House SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) on 0330 223 0362 or at [email protected]

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