A man has been found guilty of carrying out a rape on a woman in Dover on Christmas Day.
Tudor Tofoi, 21, of High Street, Dover, was found guilty of the sexual offence at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday (8 July 2015).
During the early hours of Christmas Day last year, Kent Police received a call from a woman in her twenties who said she had been raped just moments before.
The victim reported she had been walking along Castle Street towards Folkestone Road in Dover after a night out when she was approached and grabbed by two men, who dragged her into a garage area near Stembrook, and raped her. It was only when she was able to grab her mobile phone, causing it to illuminate, that the two men fled the scene.
One of the attackers was identified as Tofoi.
Officers investigating the case were able to trace Romanian-born Tofoi on CCTV throughout the town shortly before the attack. After initially leaving the country Tofoi was located and brought back to the UK by his mother, prior to being arrested.
When interviewed by officers of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, Tofoi claimed the sex between himself and the victim had been consensual.
However a jury saw through Tofoi's lies during the trial and he was convicted.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Lee Whitehead of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "We are pleased with the result today. Tofoi is a dangerous man who carried out his sickening crime on what should be one of the happiest days of the year.
"We are working with the Crown Prosecution Service to facilitate the return of the second suspect to the UK."
Tofoi will be sentenced on 14 August.