Bolton: Man sentenced to seven years for rape of young woman

Prashant Gurung attacked the victim in an alleyway off Bradshawgate just after 5am in September last year following a night out.

The court heard that Gurung was arrested two days after the incident and claimed that the sex had been consensual.

Bolton Crown Court was told that the victim was trying to find her friends and CCTV showed her being taken down an alleyway by Gurung.

The victim had previously told the court that she was “crying” and asked Gurung to “stop”, but he said, “no crying”.

She then went to try and find her friends where she was met by a police officer who saw she was “upset” and “distressed”.

The 20-year-old was found guilty of rape by a jury of eight men and four women at Bolton Crown Court in March, but not guilty of assault by penetration.

Throughout the trial he had maintained his innocence, having pleaded not guilty to both charges.

For the sentencing in court on Friday, prosecutor Adam White read out the victim’s impact statement, which described the devastating effect the incident has had on her.

The statement said: “That night has haunted me every night.

“I can’t walk home, sleep or shower.

“I am constantly going over the same scenario in my head.

“I constantly relive what you did to me and feel constant hatred to my own body.

“The girl everyone misses is gone.

“I am well and truly broken and nothing is going to fix me now and I am not the same person as I was before.”

Rebecca Filletti, defending, asked the judge to take Gurung’s age and maturity into consideration before sentencing.

She also said he was a man of “previous good character” and that he had made efforts to “better” himself.

Ms Filletti said: “Although he was found guilty after trial the defendant is of previous good character and he is of a young age and has no previous convictions.

“Mr Gurung has prepared a letter for the court, and he is not taking the proceedings lightly.

“This is the first time he has been incarcerated and he has found it extremely difficult.

“He has managed to get work, which he would have achieved when is language was at a certain level.

“He is studying English and maths, and he is trying to better himself.

“He had part time employment while studying and was sending money back to his family in Nepal.

“Both age and maturity should be taken into the sentencing decision.”

Sentencing Gurung, Judge Tom Gilbart said: “I do not sentence you on the basis that you went into the town centre, and you went out looking to commit the offence or one like it.

“When you encountered the victim, it would have been obvious to you that she was on her own and under the influence of drink.

“There were minutes between first encountering her and raping her.

“She made a complaint of rape within minutes of being attacked, and the victim spoke to her friend on the phone, and the victim was crying a lot and she found it hard to speak.”

Judge Gilbart also said that whilst he notes his age, what Gurrung did has had an “affect” on the victim.

When sentencing Gurung, of Manchester Road, Bolton, Judge Gilbart said: “You’re a young man with previous good character.

“You have no previous convictions.

“You have a history of work in this country.

“You came here to study, and I accept you have a positive work effort.

“I am quite satisfied that the victim suffered psychological harm as a result of what you did.”

Judge Gilbart sentenced Gurung to seven years in prison.

Source – INDIA TV