Violent man jailed for 16 years for two sex attacks

Romanian had only been in UK for a month when he struck

A VIOLENT man has been jailed for vicious attacks on two lone women in broad daylight in Northolt.

Nicusor Ion, 41, of Islip Gardens in Northolt, who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman at knifepoint and attempted to sexually assault another, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday May 27.

He was found guilty of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, two attempted robberies, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article, following a weeklong trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

The court heard how he used an underpass at the Target Roundabout to carry out the brutal attacks within three days of each other in August last year.

The first attack was on a woman aged 28 who was grabbed from behind and forced into the bushes before she was robbed and sexually assaulted at knifepoint on August 9 2015, around 6.45pm.

He struck again three days later at around 9.30am on August 12.

This time the victim was a 47-year-old woman who was walking through the underpass when Ion grabbed her and attempted to drag her into bushes before pushing her to the floor.

In both incidents he was disturbed by a member of the public and ran off.

Police attended the scene of the second incident, where they took the victim on a drive at around the area and identified Ion outside a betting shop in Mandeville Road, where he was arrested.

The first victim also picked him out from an ID parade and he was then charged with a string of offences linked to both incidents.

During the trial it was revealed that Ion, who had previous convictions for robbery in his native Romania, had been in the UK for less than a month before committing the first offence.

DC Ben Robinson from Ealing CID who investigated both incidents, said: “These were violent and sustained attacks on two lone females in broad daylight which must have been terrifying for the victims.

“However, due to their courage, officers were able to quickly identify Ion following the second offence and arrest him.

“Ion is a dangerous man who will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.

“Such offences will not be tolerated and we will do everything within our power to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”