Victor Braga, a 30-year-old male, has been convicted of rape following his flight to Moldova, where a trial occurred in his absence.
On the evening of December 19, 2020, Victor Braga, formerly of Drydale Avenue, Northampton, sexually assaulted a woman within a flat in Semilong.
During the assault, Victor Braga restrained the victim to a bed and, despite her persistent objections to sexual intercourse, he continued to rape her.
Subsequent to the occurrence, the woman courageously contacted Northamptonshire Police, prompting the initiation of an investigation that encompassed multiple lines of inquiry.
Victor Braga was identified as the culprit, apprehended for the crime, and charged with one count of rape. On December 14, 2022, he attended Northampton Crown Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty to the charge and was granted bail to return for a trial in late 2023.
During that period, Victor Braga successfully escaped the country and is presently thought to be in Moldova.
A trial occurred in his absence, concluding last Thursday (December 13), with the jury deliberating for only one hour before convicting him. He received a sentence of seven years and six months in jail on the same day.
Law enforcement officials are currently endeavouring to facilitate his return to this country to fulfil his sentence.
Lead investigator – Detective Sergeant Andrea Taylor said: “First of all, I want to commend the woman in this case for her courage. This has been a very complex investigation which was delayed a number of times and her strength throughout has been incredible as well as inspiring.
“No one should have had to go through what she did, and although nothing can ever erase those memories, I hope the conclusion of this case provides her with some sense of closure. She has a bright future ahead of her and I know she can achieve great things.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is something we’re very passionate about at Northamptonshire Police and we will continue to do everything we can to protect people and bring offenders to justice.”
This report has been released with the support of the survivor, who has the legal right to lifelong anonymity
If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, whether recent or non-recent, please come forward by calling 101 or via the online reporting tool at www.northants.police.uk.
We will believe you.
If you have been a victim of rape or sexual abuse, but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/serenity or call Serenity on 01604 601713.
Serenity provides free, confidential 24/7 support.
You can also visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.
Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.