Sexual attackers who unleashed revolting violence on Lincoln victims jailed

Two men who carried out a vicious attack after sexually assaulting a teenage woman in Lincoln city centre were jailed at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday.

Alin-Ionut Apostu and Alexandru Mocanu pinched the bottom of the 19-year-old and then launched a violent attack on her male friend leaving him unconscious lying in a pool of blood on the ground.

The sexual assault victim previously spoke to The Lincolnite about her experience and said she no longer feels safe on Lincoln’s streets.

During the incident that followed the 19-year-old was also knocked unconscious when she went to help the victim and her female friend was karate-kicked by Apostu.

Recorder Graham Huston, passing sentence, described the behaviour of Apostu and Mocanu as “revolting” and said the attack on the man was vicious.

“The man made it clear to you that you had just sexually assaulted his friend. You then quite gratuitously decided to attack him. There was no threat from him at all.

“He was on the ground unable to defend himself. He was kicked to the face and head and stamped on a number of times by both of you. The consequences can in no way be regarded as anything other than serious. It remains a matter of sheer good fortune that the injuries and consequences to him were not a great deal more serious.”

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, said that the attack took place on Lincoln High Street close to the Stonebow in the early hours of December 2 as the victims were making their way home at the end of a night out.

Mr Shaw said: “Three people were subjected to a sustained and violent attack by these two defendants.”

He told the court that the 19-year-old was being carried by her male friend when Apostu and Mocanu came up behind them.

“As the defendants overtook them Apostu reached out and pinched the woman on the bottom. Mocanu then did the same.”

Mr Shaw said that Apostu and Mocanu then appeared to joke about what they had done which led to the male friend of the 19-year-old pointing that they had committed a sexual assault.

“Mocanu’s response was to punch the man to the head several times. Apostu joined in pulling the man to the ground, punching and kicking him and stamping on his head. Mocanu also kicked and stamped on the man.

“The woman did what she could to push them off but she was then punched by Apostu as she tried to stop them from attacking her friend. She was pulled to the ground and Apostu kicked her violently to the head.”

Mr Shaw said that by this time the man was unconscious on the ground and Apostu went back and kicked and stamped on him.

Apostu went back to the woman who was motionless on the ground.

“He pulled up her skirt and fondled her buttocks. He then kicked her in the head again and then leaned over her and spat on her.”

Apostu then turned on a second woman and delivered a karate kick to her head knocking her to the ground.

The attackers walked off but were subsequently identified and arrested three days later.

Passersby helped the victims. The man, who has a medical condition which means his blood does not clot, was taken to hospital and detained for three nights. He has been left permanently scarred by the incident and has had to give up his part-time job as a result of what happened.

Alin-Ionut Apostu, 19, of Hood Street, Lincoln and Alexandru Mocanu, 35, of Gibbeson Street, Lincoln, each pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 19-year-old woman.

Apostu admitted assaulting her causing her actually bodily harm and assaulting the second woman also causing her actual bodily harm.

Both men also admitted a further charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to a male friend of the 19-year-old.

Apostu was sent to a young offenders’ institution for five years and four months. Mocanu was jailed for four years and eight months. Both men were placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Karen Walton, for Apostu, told the court: “He had only just arrived in this country. He came to the UK to seek employment and to further his career.”

She said that Apostu was of previous good character and added: “He absolutely apologises and realises that this should not have happened.”

John McNally, for Mocanu, said he acted out of character and has no previous convictions either in the UK or in his home country of Romania.

“He has been in the UK for a number of years. He has always worked and he supports his family.”