A SICKENING predator has been sentenced to more than 14 years in jail for raping a sleeping woman while her child slept in the next room.

News of Petrus-Ionut Apostoae’s crime rocked Warrington, with the rape occurring during a burglary of the victim’s home by Apostoae.

The 25-year-old offender, of Gorsey Lane in Orford, was locked up at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Friday.

Apostoae broke into the victim’s home in the early hours of Sunday, October 2, with police called to an address on Orford Lane at 5.30am.

The victim had gone to sleep at 2am and 'woke up to hands over her face' from an unknown man. She struggled against him as he wrestled control over her.

Prosecuting, Louise McCloskey told the court how the victim tried to fight but worried that if she made too much noise, she would wake up her child who was sleeping in the next room. 

She went on to describe how, when the victim stopped struggling to try to prevent her son from overhearing, Apostoae violently raped her twice.

Ms McCloskey said how the victim had to 'accept what was happening to her' and tried to keep quiet for 'fear her child would be awoken'.

After raping her, Apostoae tucked the duvet over her, 'caressed her hair gently', and asked if she was okay.

He then told her not to call the police, which she told him she would not do, but once she heard the door closing as he left, she immediately called the police.

Reading an impact statement, Ms McCloskey told the court how the victim described feeling 'dirty and disgusting'.

However, she did say in her statement that she 'hopes she can show victims of serious sexual assault they should report it and they will receive support'.

She went on to tell the court how the victim 'feels guilty to send someone to prison for a long time', and while she is glad he pled guilty and saved her the ordeal of giving evidence during a trial, she regretted it had robbed her of an answer to her biggest question: “Why? Why me?”

Representing Apostoae, Paul Wood said this client had a history of cocaine abuse, and that the burglary and assault happened after a drunken night out in Warrington.

The rape led Cheshire Police to launch a widescale investigation and media appeal, with CCTV footage released to try and aid in the investigation.

Warrington Guardian: The CCTV footage released by Cheshire PoliceThe CCTV footage released by Cheshire Police (Image: Cheshire Police)

As well as the burglary and two counts of rape, Apostoae pleaded guilty to attempting to trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence on November 12.

The rapist was arrested on December 5 after a questionnaire was sent out to residents in the area.

The 25-year-old man filled his out, in which he described being on a night out that evening, with his return seeing him pass the victim’s home.   

When he was arrested, police found clothing and a stationary set from the victim’s home.

Apostae pled guilty to all seven counts, namely two counts of rape, one of burglary, one of attempting to trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, and three counts of attempted burglary of other properties on the road, at a previous hearing.

Judge Dennis Watson spoke of how Apostoae posed a 'huge risk to cause serious harm to the public, particularly to women'.

“You broke into the home of the victim, and you raped her twice." he said.

"It is clear you intended to commit another sexual offence when you returned to her home. It was clear that offence was rape.”

“To return to the same address shows planning and intent, and shows intended repeat offending to the same victim”.

While acknowledging that Apostoae had no previous convictions, he said his crimes 'require a lengthy sentence', and that he had 'no hesitation' in concluding Apostaoae is a dangerous offender.

“There is a high risk of serious harm to the public, and for the protection of the public I need to appoint a lengthy sentence,” he added.

Apostoae was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison, with a further eight years on extended.

He will serve a minimum of two thirds of this custodial sentence before parole is considered, with this also being dependant on an assessment of protection to the public.

Judge Watson concluded by saying: “The circumstances of this case are truly horrific.

"Nothing that can be done here can turn back the clock. It is always upsetting to hear a victim second guessing their actions and their conduct.

"I would like to say, she is utterly blameless. He brought this on himself.”

In the days that followed the incident, residents in the area were urged by police to remain vigilant by ensuring they kept windows and doors locked.

At the time, superintendent Mike Evans said: “Thankfully, attacks such as these are extremely rare.

"Nevertheless, I would urge residents to be vigilant and make sure their homes are well secured.

“I hope that our large police presence in the area will reassurance those in the local community that we are working tirelessly to find the man responsible.”

On the conviction, DI Nigel Parr, from Cheshire Police’s major investigation team, which led the investigation, said: “Apostoae is a dangerous and predatory criminal who subjected his victim to a truly horrific ordeal.

“He invaded the victim’s home, a place where everyone should feel safe, and committed a heinous sexual assault.

“Thankfully, as a result of the investigation and the amount of evidence gathered, Apostoae had no other option but to plead guilty, meaning that the victim has been spared the trauma of having to relive what happened on that night.

“I would like to thank the victim for the strength and bravery she has shown throughout the investigation and hope that this will, in some way, help her rebuild her life.”

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or know of someone who has, call Cheshire Police on 101, visit cheshire.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.