Rugby man attempted to rape woman but she bravely fought him off - now his jail sentence is being reduced

Drink and drug-addled Ionut Musca charged down a flight of steps and grappled with the victim, who had been relieving herself in a car park off Chapel Street after a night out in June 2019.

He put his hand over the mouth of the young woman and "forceful struggle" began, ending in him fleeing after the woman bravely struggled back.

He was later identified by the police as the attacker from CCTV footage.

Musca, 20, of Rowland Street, Rugby, was sentenced to five years' detention at Warwick Crown Court in September this year.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to attempted rape.

But on December 10, Sir Roderick Evans, at London's Criminal Appeal Court, ruled that Musca was treated too harshly and cut his sentence to four years.

The court heard that the victim had been on a night out, but had left her friend to get a taxi home when Musca struck at around 2.45am.

The attack lasted less than a minute, with Musca fleeing after failing to muffle the woman's screams.

The victim later described how she had "felt anxious" since the incident and "felt sick" whenever she passed the scene of her ordeal.

Musca, while admitting his guilt, told police he "struggled to remember what happened having consumed drink and drugs which he was unaccustomed to."

Sir Roderick slammed Musca's crime, saying: "He targeted a vulnerable lone female, who he knew was drunk and almost helpless.

"A woman being attacked by a stranger when out alone at night is the stuff of nightmares."

But he went on to cut the sentence after hearing argument from Musca's lawyers that the crown court judge did not give him enough credit for pleading guilty.

"This was an attempt and not the full offence," he said. "We will substitute the sentence of five years with one of four years. To this extent, the appeal is allowed."

Visit bit.ly/2RIcoY8 for information on the support and help available for survivors of rape and sexual assault.