Two men raped a “vulnerable” 12-year-old girl after taking her in a car to a secluded woodland spot.
Today the pair - Vinayak Rama and Reynold Carvalho - were given substantial jail sentences for the crime.
Rama (29), of Kashmir Road, St Matthews, Leicester, was sentenced to 10 years and six months after admitting two counts of rape.
Carvalho (29), of Prestwold Road, in the Uppingham Road area of the city, was jailed for eight years and three months after pleading guilty to one offence of rape.
Police said after the case that they believed the pair could have carried out other similar crimes either together or separately. They urged anyone who believed they were a victim of the men to come forward.
Leicester Crown Court was told the defendants genuinely did not know the girl was below the age of consent, as the victim told them she was 17.
Luke Blackburn, prosecuting, said: “She did not consent but was compliant to what happened.”
Rama had twice previously attempted to chat up the girl, before they encountered her on the day of the offences, October 1 last year, walking along Holden Street, Belgrave, Leicester.
Rama, who was a passenger in a car driven by Carvalho, persuaded her to get in the vehicle.
Judge Robert Brown said: “She was taken to a relatively isolated spot before the sex took place.
“It was a joint attack.
“This child was a particularly vulnerable person due to her extreme youth and personal circumstances.
“There was a degree of planning and you acted together in committing these offences.
“Rama, you played the leading role and you raped her twice.
“You’d also met her prior to the night in question and you knew where you were likely to find her.
“She was taken to a wooded area which she knew and recognised.
“Rama removed her lower clothing and had sexual intercourse whilst Carvalho remained in the driver’s seat.
“She got out of the car to pull her clothes up. You, Rama, told her to take her trousers down and she did so.
“She was compliant.”
He said Rama had intercourse with her again and Carvalho engaged in a penetrative sex act.
Mary Prior, mitigating, said: “She described herself as being over the age of consent.
“She appeared and acted to be older than her biological age of 12.
“It makes him guilty of statutory rape.
“There’s no suggestion of force being used.”
Georgina Gibbs, for Carvalho, said: “His partner gave birth to their child a short time before this.
“He made a snap decision and for the rest of his life he’ll regret it.
“He’s still in a relationship with his partner.
“He genuinely believed the complainant was 17 and she accepted she was deceptive about her own age.
“Once he realised her true age he was horrified and disgusted.”
Miss Gibbs said her client had not known about her background or the fact she was vulnerable.
Both defendants were placed on a sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for life.
A restraining order forbids them from having any future contact with the victim.
Detective Constable Helen Small, who investigated the incident, said after the case: “Rama and Carvalho enticed a young girl and took advantage of her vulnerability.
“This was a despicable crime, and I am pleased that they have both pleaded guilty to their part in the incident.
“The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings may now be over, but for the victim the events of that day will no doubt leave a lasting affect which we hope in time will ease.
“From inquiries we conducted during the investigation it’s strongly believed that the defendants may have committed other similar crimes either together or separately.
“If you recognise the defendants or believe you may have been a victim of their crimes, then we would urge you to contact us.
“Even if the incident is not recent, we would still like to speak to you.
“We have specialist officers who can support and assist you through the process and please be assured we will take all reports extremely seriously.”
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