A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping a woman after intruding on her in a bathroom and forcing her into a bathtub, reports Sunday World.
Darius Langas, aged 37, from Main Street, Ballinasloe, was found guilty after a week-long trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he denied the single charge of rape committed on August 13, 2022.
This week, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a 10-year sentence on Langas, with the final year suspended under strict conditions for five years, reports Sunday World.
An investigating garda informed Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that the victim went to the garda station immediately following the assault.
She explained that she had been drinking in a local park with two men, including Langas, and willingly accompanied them to an apartment where they continued consuming alcohol and cocaine, reports Sunday World.
The woman later disclosed to gardaí that both men propositioned her for sex, and she refused both.
Langas followed her into the bathroom, where he tugged at her clothing, unfastened his trousers, and attempted to coerce her into performing oral sex, reports Sunday World.
She refused, informing Langas that she was menstruating.
He then pushed her into the bathtub and raped her from behind while she shouted, screamed, and tried to resist.
The woman was able to guide gardaí to the apartment where the incident occurred, leading to Langas’s arrest, reports Sunday World.
Initially, he denied having sex with her, calling her “crazy.” He was arrested again after semen from the woman’s examination at the sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) matched his DNA.
At that point, Langas admitted to sexual activity but insisted it was consensual, reports Sunday World.
Mr Staines noted that the SATU report detailed extensive injuries on the woman, consistent with her account of resisting and being struck by the accused.
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Mr Staines read the woman’s victim impact statement, as she was not present in court.
She described suffering from anxiety, depression, nightmares, and panic attacks, stating she fears every man and “fears what they are going to do to me”, reports Sunday World.
She expressed that it feels like “he is still part of me”… “like he broke something inside of me”.
She admitted to pre-existing struggles with alcohol and drugs, which have worsened since the assault.
“He brought me to such a darker place. I wished it never happened,” she added, reports Sunday World.
She mentioned losing her children, who are now in care.
“I wanted to get better for my kids but he broke me,” she stated, reports Sunday World.
The woman expressed a desire for an apology but refused to face Langas.
She noted progress in her recovery, including attending counselling and getting a dog, reports Sunday World.
“I just couldn’t cope. I got so much more used to the dark hole,” she said, reports Sunday World.
Bernard Madden SC, defending, stated that his client does not accept the jury’s verdict.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the offense as serious, with significant consequences for the victim, reports Sunday World.
Commenting on her victim impact statement, the judge noted her “frank and candid” acknowledgment of pre-existing issues.
He stated that the court was convinced Langas had exacerbated her difficulties, but was “delighted” to hear of her improvement, reports Sunday World.
The judge established a headline sentence of 10 years, noting that Langas’s rejection of the jury’s verdict offered “really isn’t” any mitigation.
The judge highlighted concerns from the probation report, which indicated Langas “continues to deprecate” the woman’s struggles and plans to mislead others about his imprisonment, reports Sunday World.
Mr Justice Hunt remarked that the probation report offered “nothing good to be said,” but allowed for the possibility of future reform.
The judge ordered Langas to be supervised by The Probation Service for three years after his release and backdated the sentence to his time in custody.
Mr Justice Hunt expressed hope that the woman’s dog would bring her comfort and joy, directing gardaí to convey the court’s best wishes for her recovery and peace, reports Sunday World.
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