Two Romanian men have pleaded guilty to sexual offences after a teenage girl was raped at a flat in a UK city centre. Mario-Vifor Ratoiu, 23, admitted raping a 14-year-old girl while Mario-Alexandru Ratoiu, 26, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Court appearance and charges
The pair appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday (October 6) and will be sentenced on December 3. The girl was raped in Manchester's Green Quarter on Tuesday, April 7. Police officers rushed to the scene and arrested the two suspects.
An investigation was then launched by detectives before the pair, of no fixed addresses, were charged. Mario-Alexandru Ratoiu was previously charged with rape but prosecutors said his plea to the less serious charge was acceptable.
Case details and remand
The full details of the case are yet to be outlined in court. It was confirmed that both men will remain in custody until they are sentenced later this year.
Judge Sarah Johnston said: "Sentencing in your case will take place on December 3 this year. I'm ordering pre-sentence reports to be prepared in each of your cases. You are therefore required to co-operate with the probation service to ensure I have all relevant information about you before I determine the appropriate sentence in your case."
Previous court appearances
Both men first appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Saturday, April 11 after being arrested four days before. They were then remanded in custody before being charged at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, May 8.
Mario-Vifor Ratoiu admitted raping the 14-year-old victim. Meanwhile, co-defendant Mario-Alexandru Ratoiu admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child, having previously been charged with rape.
