Rapist given two life sentences

Mailat had two previous rape convictions in Romania

A man who raped and attacked a woman after meeting her at London's Mardi Gras festival more than five years ago has been given two life sentences.

The Old Bailey heard Dominic Mailat, 43, was arrested in Germany after being caught fare dodging on a train.

Mailat told the woman he would get her a ticket for the festival but instead took her to a north London flat.

He admitted rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He must serve at least five-and-a-half years.

Mailat saw the Spanish woman, who is a lesbian, waiting for friends near a ticket booth and tricked her into getting into his car.

He took her to his flat where he attacked her.

She resisted and tried to escape, punching Mailat.

There can be no doubt this has had a serious effect on her Judge Richard Hawkins

But he hit her in the face with a broom, knocking out three of her teeth, and attempted to strangle her.

Mailat fled England after the attack but was captured in Germany when a cold-case review saw an international warrant issued for his arrest.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Hawkins told Mailat: "She was a woman who had not had sexual intercourse with a man before.

"She only managed to escape by jumping through a window and was left with multiple injuries.

"There can be no doubt this has had a serious effect on her."

Mailat has two convictions for rape in his home country of Romania.

He was living in England illegally at the time of the attack.