Horror as woman raped by man who tried to snatch girl | World | News
The man raped a woman at a residential home (Image: Getty)
A woman was raped by a man who also tried to snatch a girl on her way home from school. Nilushan Jayanga Silva Ginthota Vidhanage has been jailed for 10 years and six months after being convicted of rape and two charges of unlawful sexual connection.
A court heard how Vidhanage, from Sri Lanka, raped an elderly woman while working as a caregiver at a residential home. The prosecutor said it was difficult to imagine “a more serious breach of trust”. Meanwhile, a separate incident saw Vidhanage approach and intimidate an 11-year-old girl after she left school. He has now been put behind bars and will be deported after serving a third of his sentence.
As reported by 1news, Judge Jane Farish said: “You stopped your car, you asked her whether she wanted a cigarette, she declined. You then asked her whether she wanted a ride in your car she declined, and then you forcefully directed her to get in the car.
“At that point, she ran away very wisely and waited until you had left. And then as she was returning home she saw your vehicle, very courageously and bravely took down the number plate, went straight home and told her mother and you were subsequently apprehended.”
The judge told Christchurch District Court, in New Zealand, that Vidhanage will be deported after serving a third of his sentence. She said he targeted “vulnerable” victims in both attacks.
She continued: “They were vulnerable, not only because of the position they were in, in the early hours of the morning in a facility where they should have felt entitled to be safe, but they had both physical and mental vulnerabilities. They were incredibly fragile.
The attacker was jailed at Christchurch District Court (Image: Getty)
“You’re there to provide cares because they can no longer do that for themselves, and you abuse that trust, and that has caused huge issues in relation to that feeling of trust that families have when they place their elderly loved ones into care.”
The manager of the care home where Vidhanage raped the woman said the attack has had a “significant impact” on them and the facility. They said they had previously had no reason to question Vidhanage after a “robust employment vetting process” was carried out before he was hired.
The manager said: “Residents should feel safe, cared for and loved in their home. This has shaken myself and staff to our core causing deep emotional distress which has exhibited physically in some of the team.”
They added: “For many it would be something unfathomable and would cause them considerable anxiety and distress.
Police in New Zealand described the crimes as ‘distressing’ (Image: Getty)
“My deep concern would be the flow on affect for them which would likely manifest in many different ways. If this further pain can be avoided I believe that would enable us to move forward and it would be the best possible outcome for us all.”
Police Detective Tone Kopelani said: “This sort of offending is very distressing for all those concerned, so it is pleasing to have someone held to account in the courts.
“The case involved vulnerable victims, and it was important to ensure they were properly supported, and their families were involved.”
He added: “To date, we do not believe there are any more victims from the facility, however we would ask anyone who does have concerns about potential criminal behaviour in respect of this matter to come forward to police.”
