In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Cristian Mihai, then 40, a Romanian national of no fixed address, was sentenced to 16 months in prison. On a date in 2019, Mihai appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentencing after a predatory sexual assault on a teenage girl in the toilets of Darley Park, Derby, Derbyshire.
The investigation established that on 12 April 2019, the victim was washing her hands in the ladies’ toilets when Mihai approached her from behind. The prosecution reported that he began “slobbering” over the girl’s hands, which were bandaged due to open wounds, before grabbing her wrists and rubbing himself against her. The victim eventually managed to escape the cubicle, but the assault resulted in her wounds becoming infected, requiring antibiotic treatment.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that a witness blocked the toilet exit to prevent Mihai from fleeing until Derbyshire Constabulary arrived. Edna Leonard, prosecuting, detailed the profound impact on the victim, stating she had lost her independence and developed a fear of being near men or being home alone. The judge noted that, while Mihai had no previous convictions in the UK, he had served a prison term in Romania for theft and robbery.
Judge Jonathan Bennett described the incident as a serious offence that had a massive impact on the victim and her family. The prosecution emphasised that the victim showed great bravery in fighting him off, twisting her wrist in the process. Although the defence claimed the behaviour was out of character and that Mihai felt deep shame, the court determined that the predatory nature of the attack in a public park necessitated an immediate custodial sentence.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Cristian Mihai was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 16 months in immediate custody.
- SOPO: A Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years.
- Restraining Order: A three-year order banning him from contacting the victim or entering Darley Park.
- Deportation: Remanded for consideration of deportation to Romania by the Secretary of State.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Mihai was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Derbyshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the random and aggressive nature of the park assault, his management was subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit until his potential removal from the country.
Authorities state that the ten-year SOPO was a vital measure to restrict his movements should he remain in the UK. The judge noted that his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity was the only mitigating factor in an otherwise disturbing case. Any breach of his restraining order or registration conditions during his time in Derby, Derbyshire, would have resulted in immediate arrest and further prosecution.
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