Fulham Palace Road Man Jailed for Attempted Rape
Antonino Giagu threatened sex worker with knife
Antonino Giagu sentenced to seven years imprisonment
A 58-year-old man, who lives on Fulham Palace Road, has been jailed after attempting to rape a woman.
Antonino Giagu appeared at Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, 1 June.
He had pleaded guilty of trying to rape a sex worker at knife point and then threatening a man who came to her aid.
In the early hours of Monday 28 February, Giagu arrived at a flat in Marylebone where he had arranged to meet a 22-year-old female sex worker.
When she opened the door he forced her onto a bed and threatened her with a knife, demanding she have sex with him for free. He held his hands over her mouth to stop her screaming for help.
The victim, despite being in fear for her safety, managed to reach her phone and answer an incoming call, crying out for help.
Her friend, a 41-year-old man, arrived within minutes to help. Giagu thrust the knife repeatedly towards the man in an effort to attack him but he was unsuccessful.
The man managed to wrestle Giagu out of the flat and onto an external staircase from where he fled.
The police had been called and officers quickly arrived. They found Giagu nearby where he was arrested and taken into custody.
He was charged on Thursday, 17 March and remanded in custody.
Giagu was given seven years and two months in prison for attempted rape, causing grievous bodily harm (section 20) and possession of a bladed article.
Detective Constable Lloyd Leech, from the Westminster Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, led the investigation.
He said, “This was a shocking attack on a woman who was alone and vulnerable. The fact that Giagu arrived at the flat with a knife in his possession strongly suggests it was calculated and pre-meditated.
“His actions that night terrified the victim and her friend. Had it not been for the bravery shown by both of them the outcome could have been even worse.
“We know that assaults, including sexual assaults, on sex workers are significantly under-reported. They deserve justice in the same way as any other victims and I hope this case shows that we will do all we can to get it for them.
“Our job is not to make judgements. We will treat anyone reporting a crime with dignity and respect, no matter who they are or what they do. I would urge sex workers who have been the victim of an assault or other offences to come forward. You will be listened to and we will take your reports seriously. Specially trained officers are here to help.”
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June 2, 2022