London: In a disgraceful incident, an Indian studying engineering in the UK has been sentenced to six years and nine months in a young offenders’ institution after admitting to rape, BBC reported.
Last June, 20-year-old Preet Vikal met an ‘intoxicated’ woman outside a Cardiff music club and took advantage of her vulnerable state.
CCTV footage of Preet carrying the woman in his arms to his room has gone viral. He then raped her and also took a ‘trophy photograph’ of the victim in his bed before attacking her, The Daily Mail reported.
The CCTV footage, which was played in the court, showed Preet carrying the victim in his arms and later across his shoulders at around 4 am, before laying her on the ground and lifting her to her feet. As they passed the Blackweir pub, the victim was walking but leaning heavily on Preet.
“She was bleeding. She found her clothes folded, got out of bed and got dressed. The victim asked for the defendant’s Instagram address and once she left, she messaged him asking him if they had sex, and if so, whether they had used protection,” prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said.
Prosecutor Cobbe said Preet and the victim did not know each other and went out with separate groups of friends.
Preet, who was arrested soon after the woman reached out to police, initially claimed that the victim had been a “willing participant.”
The prosecutor remarked it was clear that the victim was too drunk to agree to sex.
Preet pleaded not guilty before finally admitting the rape on the day of trial.
