Rapist, 30, who pounced on woman while on bail for a similar attack is jailed for 10 years

A rapist who pounced on a young woman while on bail for a similar assault has been jailed for ten years.  

Romanian Dorel Simion, 30, and accomplice Bogdan Paduraru pounced on the victim near an underpass in Pine Crescent, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire in June 2021.

Simion was also convicted of having raped another woman in the town months earlier in August 2020.

Both men have been jailed and placed on the sex offenders list and are likely to be deported to Romania on their releases.  

The court heard how both men had 'taken advantage' of a woman who had been walking from her home nearby.

Prosecutors stated she was intoxicated at the time and unable to consent to sex.

The duo - both from Romania - were later charged, but it emerged Simion had already appeared in court for the earlier rape.

Simion had appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on September 9, 2020 before being allowed back on the streets. 

The 30 year-old had been out on bail at the time of the assault in 2021. He had again preyed on a woman who had been drinking.

The pair were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday having earlier been convicted of both sex attacks after a trial. 

Simion - who has a long term partner - had denied the accusations at trial and his lawyer today/yesterday said he continued to protest his innocence.

Louise Arrol KC, defending, said: 'Somewhat concerning is that there is really nothing to note in his background that might shed any light to this offending behaviour.'

The advocate told the hearing Simion had been under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Sentencing, Lady Stacey told Simion: 'It is very concerning that you committed two serious crimes in the space of less than a year - the second one while on bail.

'You claimed to the social worker (in a report) not to understand why anyone would force another person into sex.

'That is exactly what you did. Neither of the women could consent to sex and could not defend themselves against you.'

Janice Green, defending Paduraru, said he claimed to have no memory of the sex attack, but accepted responsibility due to the evidence. 

Addressing Paduraru, the judge said: 'The woman (in his charge) had been going out having been at home.

'She was walking in an underpass when you and Simion decided to take advantage of her.'

Paduraru, 28, was jailed for five and a half years after he pleaded guilty to his involvement in the latter rape. 

Both were placed on the sex offenders list and are likely to be returned to their homeland on their release.