Two men have admitted sexual offences after a teenage girl was raped in a flat in Manchester city centre. Mario-Vifor Ratoiu, 23, admitted raping the 14-year-old. Co-defendant Mario-Alexandru Ratoiu, 26, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child, having previously been charged with rape.
Pleas accepted by prosecutors
Prosecutors told Manchester Crown Court Mario-Alexandru Ratoiu's plea to the less serious charge was acceptable. Both men, of no fixed address, are due to be sentenced at the same court in December.
The charges came after police received a report of a rape at a flat in the Green Quarter area of the city in April. The defendants, both Romanian nationals, were arrested and remanded in custody, where they remain.
Sentencing date set
The full circumstances of the case have not yet been outlined in open court. They entered guilty pleas ahead of a proposed trial, which was due to start today (October 6).
"Sentencing in your case will take place on December 3 this year," the defendants were told by Judge Sarah Johnston. "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."
