Newark: 'Dangerous' man, 19, jailed for raping woman in town

Andre Ivanov admitted two counts of rape against the same woman

A 19-year-old man has been jailed for raping a woman as she walked through a Nottinghamshire town.

Andre Ivanov, of Edwin Place, Newark, followed two women in Newark town centre, attacking the second in the early hours of 22 October.

He initially denied two charges of rape but changed his plea on the first day of his trial.

At Nottingham Crown Court he was jailed for nine years, with another five years on extended licence.

'Significant risk'

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she had flashbacks, was struggling to sleep and was now wary of going out at night.

Judge James Sampson told Ivanov: "Disturbingly you were captured on CCTV in the town centre of Newark following a lone woman along Bar Gate and through other streets.

"It is absolutely clear you were following her and I have no doubt you were looking for any opportunity to rape a woman, some woman, that night."

He added: "The evidence of you looking for a victim is absolutely clear.

"I am sure you are dangerous, despite your age, and I'm sure there is a significant risk to members of the public, namely women, of serious harm."

After the sentencing the victim thanked police for the way they handled the case.

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 OK.

"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."

Ivanov will also be on the sex offenders register for life.