A VAN driver has been praised by a judge after going to the rescue of a woman being raped in Rugby.
After parting company with a woman he had shared a taxi with from a town night club, Kai Sowe attacked her from behind, forced her to the ground and raped her.
Fortunately her ordeal came to a swift end when passing van driver Patrick Mitchell saw what was happening and turned round to go back to her aid – at which 28-year-old Sowe fled.
Despite DNA tests showing evidence of penetration, Sowe, of Stainsbury Avenue, Hockley, Birmingham, denied any sexual activity had taken place.
But a jury at Warwick Crown Court found him guilty by a unanimous verdict, and Sowe was remanded in custody for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on him.
Prosecutor Michael Williams said in October 2016 Sowe travelled to Rugby to visit the mother of his child, and that evening went to a night club in the town centre.
His victim, a woman in her 40s, was in the same club and dancing with a number of people including Sowe.
Later they were both at the taxi rank where, after they had discussed where they were going, Sowe suggested they share a taxi, and the woman agreed.
After they got out of the taxi at a spot when Sowe had told the driver to stop, they woman set off to walk the rest of the way back to her home.
It was then Sowe attacked and raped her.
Mr Mitchell became concerned at seeing the woman being followed, so had turned round and driven past again.
When he did so, his suspicions proved correct and he saw the rape taking place, so pulled up, at which Sowe made off.
After the woman was taken to the hospital swabs were taken which revealed Sowe’s DNA.
But despite that damning evidence, Sowe claimed in court that after they had got out of the taxi, the woman had pushed him, and they had fallen over, and he denied having sex with her and said he did not know how his DNA was found internally.
After the jury returned its verdict, Sowe’s barrister Elroy Claxton asked for an adjournment for a pre-sentence report, observing Sowe had convictions for possessing an offensive weapon and possessing a bladed article, but no sex offences.
Agreeing a report was needed, Judge Peter Cooke said: “I would like all matters, including the question of dangerousness, to be addressed.
“This is the violent rape of a woman in the street, and he has twice before been convicted of carrying weapons.”
Asking for Mr Mitchell to be awarded £1,000 from the High Sheriff’s award fund, in recognition of his ‘exemplary conduct,’ Judge Cooke added: “What he did, and the way he conducted himself was very public-spirited.
“This was a man going about his business, and he became very concerned about what he saw in the very early stages, and was sufficiently troubled and sufficiently public-spirited not to just leave this woman to her fate, but to turn round and check.
“He stopped what was in progress. He stopped not only the rape but her having a hand round her throat stopping her breathing, and then gave pursuit as best he could and called the police.”
