Decade in jail for man who raped 15-year-old girl

Anicet Mayela had a bid to change his plea rejected by the judge in September

A man has been jailed for 10 years after he raped a 15-year-old girl whilst drunk, which led to the victim becoming pregnant.

Anicet Mayela, 41, pleaded guilty to a single count of rape at Oxford Crown Court in April this year - but has since professed his innocence.

He previously made an attempt to vacate his original plea, which was rejected by a judge in September.

Judge Maria Lamb told the defendant he had committed "a terrible offence" when passing the sentence down on Tuesday.

Mayela, formerly of Oxford, attacked the girl whilst inebriated in December 2023.

He was jailed on Tuesday for 10 years and 10 months, and has also been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

In passing down her judgement, judge Lamb said: "For her, it was her first sexual experience, and the misery that you caused to that child who became pregnant as a result must have been extreme."

"You continued to deny your offence. Your sentence will be no longer for that, but you don't have the benefit of remorse, and she doesn't have the support and assistance of knowing that you acknowledge your guilt."

Judge Lamb, commenting on the victim impact statement, added: "She is a remarkable young woman who, despite everything that has happened to her and everything that you did to her, has found it possible to forgive you."

Edward Lucas, prosecuting, told the judge the teenage victim had an abortion in the months following the rape.

Mayela was first interviewed by police on March 13 this year, when he made "full admissions, but denied using any force on the complainant".

The Congolese national appeared in the dock dressed in prisoners' grey tracksuit, and was assisted throughout the hearing by a French interpreter.

Several family members watched from the public gallery as he was sentenced.

The 41-year-old was granted asylum in the UK in 2010 following several failed attempts to deport him.