Man pleads guilty to sexual assault of lone woman in Gloucester
Main article content
A man has pleaded guilty to sexual assault after he had approached and followed a lone woman before attacking her last year.
Petrica Sergiu Iroftei, aged 23 and of Dinely Street, Gloucester appeared at Gloucester Crown Court this morning, Monday 14 February.
He was due to face a trial, however he admitted the offence on the first day.
Police were contacted on the evening of 23 August 2021 with a report that a woman had been approached by a man in Barton Street, Gloucester.
She stated that she was followed to Regent Street where the man sexually assaulted her before she was able to get away.
Iroftei was identified, arrested and charged the same day and had remained in custody since then.
He has been further remanded for sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday 16 March.
Detective Constable Victoria Bygrave from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Team said: "I would like to praise the victim for her strength in coming forward and being prepared to give evidence at court.
"This was a terrifying incident on a young woman who was trying to get home after a long day at work when she was instead left in fear for her own safety.
"Gloucestershire Constabulary take all reports of any sexual offence seriously and will support victims of these type of offences throughout the entire process."
If you have experienced rape, sexual assault or abuse, and wish to report the crime, you can contact police by calling 101 or 999 in the case of an emergency. You can also report crimes online by visiting: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/.
The Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre support women dealing with the effects of rape and sexual abuse and more information can be found on their website: https://www.glosrasac.org
