North London rapist to spend longer in prison
A rapist has had his prison term increased following the intervention of the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP.
On 20 February 2012, Michael Adjei, 24, who was 19 at the time, attacked the 18 year old victim in the early hours of the morning when she was walking alone to her friend’s house after a night out. The victim was approaching the front door when Adjei jumped on her from behind causing her to fall sideways between 2 parked cars and hit her face.
Adjei then kneeled on top of the victim and forced her to perform oral sex on him after which he made several attempts to forcibly remove her leggings to rape her again. The victim resisted and the offender eventually ran off with the victim’s handbag after noticing a pedestrian was approaching.
Adjei also slammed the victims head on the ground, pulled at her arms and legs and grabbed her by the throat. The victim had swelling to her face, scratches to her neck, chest and knees and injuries to her breasts and buttocks as a result of the incident. The attack was witnessed by 2 residents who looked out of their bedroom windows when they heard the victim’s shouting.
Adjei was convicted of rape and theft at Wood Green Crown Court in October this year. He was originally sentenced to 5 years in prison. The Court of Appeal has today increased his sentence to 7 years.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, who referred the original sentence to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient said:
“This was a violent attack that left both physical and emotional trauma, and crimes of this nature must be suitably sentenced.
“I am pleased the Court has seen fit to increase this sentence - the increased sentence better reflects the seriousness of this offending and the lasting impact it has had on the victim.”