Attempted rapist jailed for five years

Tuesday 28 April 2015

The Royal Court has jailed a 20-year-old man for attempted rape after he attacked a young woman walking home on her own.

Duarte Correia has been jailed for five years, and the Royal Court has recommended that he be deported when he has served his sentence.

Police have praised the victim in the case for her bravery in coming forward – and have also praised a witness who chased Correia from the scene and then told police where he had run off to.

The Royal Court has also ruled that Correia should be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years after his release.

A statement issued by the States of Jersey Police shortly after the sentence was announced underlined that "stranger attacks" where women are attacked by men that they do not know are rare.

The statement said: “This was a nasty incident where the victim was attacked by a total stranger after returning home from a friend's late one evening.

“A number of witnesses came forward and supported the victim and investigation, in particular a local man who chased the attacker and others who were able to Identify a nearby premises where the offender ran into.

“These stranger attacks are rare in Jersey and challenging to investigate. We commend the victim throughout the enquiry for having the courage to report the incident and support the judicial process; and also for those witnesses who took positive action that night and then come forward and supported the investigation.

“A positive result with good partnership working with the Law Officers Departments in tackling sexual violence against women in Jersey.”