A police investigation has led to a dangerous man who raped a woman in the street being brought to justice.
Andre Ivanov was prowling the Newark area in the early hours of the morning when he attacked his victim as she was walking home.
Investigation
Police were called to the scene by a member of the public after they spotted the woman in distress and confronted Ivanov, who then ran away.
An investigation was launched by Public Protection detectives, who uncovered CCTV showing the attack on 22 October 2022, as well as footage of the sexual predator following another woman for a lengthy period earlier that night.
Following extensive inquiries, Ivanov was quickly identified as the man featured in the CCTV footage and was arrested for the assault.
Bravery of the victim
Despite the victim initially choosing not to engage with police, the speed with which detectives were able to identify and arrest her attacker encouraged her to talk about what happened.
This played a crucial role in helping the police successfully charge Ivanov, with the woman revealing how the support she received from officers made her feel comfortable enough to assist the investigation.
She said: “I don’t think I would’ve been able to come forward, had I not received the support I did from the officers who came to visit me multiple times to check I was okay.
“They made sure I was always aware of how the investigation was going, and their compassionate manner really gave me the strength to speak about what happened.
“It also helped massively that the investigation moved so quickly and he was arrested, as I don’t know whether I’d have been able to handle it if it had gone on for a while, so I would have probably left it.
“I can’t thank the police enough for everything they’ve done for me, and I’d urge anyone else who has gone through something like this to speak to the police, so that they can help.”
Crown Court
Ivanov, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape during an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on 11 April 2023.
Ivanov, of North Gate, Newark, appeared before the same court for sentencing on Wednesday 19 July, where he was given a total custodial sentence of 14 years.
He was sentenced to nine years in jail which will be followed by an extended licence period of five years.
Ivanov will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
DC Charlotte Leigh comment
Detective Constable Charlotte Leigh, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Public Protection team, said: “I’d like to personally thank the victim for showing the strength to come forward and talk to us about what happened to her.
“Her account played a monumental role in allowing us to ensure Ivanov was not able to get away with this despicable crime.
“Ivanov is a dangerous man, who doesn’t belong anywhere near our communities, so we’re pleased to see that he’s now been punished for what he did.”
Detective Inspector Dan Holloway, of Nottinghamshire Police, added: “Ivanov’s actions that night were horrific and have rightly led to him being locked up and taken away from our streets.
“I can only imagine how hard it must have been for the victim to relive what happened to her, so I’d like to thank her for assisting us with our investigation.
“That she felt able to come forward is testament to the support provided to her by our officers, as well as the tenacity of the investigators in progressing this investigation so quickly and convicting a very dangerous man.
“Detectives from our Public Protection teams work tirelessly to investigate any cases of rape or sexual abuse that we receive, and it is thanks to this commitment that people like Ivanov are brought to justice.
“It is extremely important to us at Nottinghamshire Police that survivors feel able to reach out to us for support.
“If this has happened to you, please contact us so that we can help – we will listen and do everything in our powers to ensure those responsible don’t get away with it.”
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