London: A television star was raped in her hotel room by an Indian porter who was awaiting deportation, a court heard yesterday. The Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
Soby John, admitted breaking into the television personality’s room at a top London hotel and forcing himself on her. The judge described the assault as a ‘wicked attack’ as court heard the star had been drinking heavily with friends previously and had been unable to defend herself. Court heard how Mr Jones, 25, abused his position as porter to get hold of an electronic key after seeing the victim stumble to her room.
John, who was living in Wembley, had entered the UK on a student visa but it had expired and he was due to be deported back to India. He had been granted shift work at the hotel through an agency on the night of the attack last year.
Prosecutor Lesley Jones said: “(The victim) had woken during the night to find an Asian man on top of her having sex with her. “She said she felt his hand on her neck as she pushed him away but then she drifted into unconsciousness.”
Court also heard that, after the attack, he sent a text message from her phone to his saying ‘hey John you enjoy me thanks’ in an effort to make it seem consensual. He also took photographs of the victim on his own phone.
Swabs taken from the victim matched John’s DNA, as did DNA taken from a pair of blue latex gloves left in the room which the court heard may have been used as a ‘crude’ condom. John admitted he had sex with the woman when police used information from hotel security to track him down at home, but denied rape in initial interviews. He had initially denied the charge of rape but changed his plea to guilty in February. Judge Alistair McCreath said: “I have no doubt you raped her because she was so drunk so she could offer no resistance. You targeted her for that purpose. “This degrading act was made all the more degrading by the fact you took photographs of her.”
Court also heard that, after the assault, the victim had developed a fear of men, was reluctant to go out on her own or stay in hotels. Mr John will be deported to India upon his release.
