Hull: Wanted rapist returned to UK and jailed

Vasile Dumitru (33) this week appeared at Hull Crown Court after he was arrested in Romania and brought back to the UK under a European Arrest Warrant. 

Dumitru was convicted of rape by a jury, in his absence, and sentenced to eight years in prison for a violent attack on a woman on Livingstone Road, Hull on Monday 14 January 2019. The judge added an extra three months to his sentence for failing to appear. 

The victim met Dumitru after he picked her up whilst she was working as a sex worker in Hull. He drove her to Livingstone road where he violently assaulted and raped her inside his car.

The woman managed to escape the vehicle and hide from Dumitru who got out of the car and followed her before returning to the vehicle and leaving the area. 

She was found by police officers a short while later walking along the A63 with no shoes on.  

Detective Inspector Jon Cross, from our protecting vulnerable people unit, said: “Right from the initial report from the victim to the officers that found her, through to today’s sentencing my team have worked hard to bring about today’s sentencing. 

“This man violently attacked a vulnerable woman, with no concern for her safety before fleeing the country to escape justice. 

“I hope that the action today shows that we will be tenacious in our investigative process, bringing offenders before the courts and ensuring that they are taken off our streets.

“I would like to praise the victim for her courage in coming forward. We worked closely with The Lighthouse Project to offer her support throughout the investigative process.

“I hope that today’s sentencing reassures other victims that we will listen, we will carry out a thorough investigation and we will support you.”