Violent rapist who tried to flee country on one-way flight jailed

A rapist caught shortly before he boarded a one-way flight out of the UK has been jailed for five years and two months.

Akshay Kumar preyed on a woman at his flat in Irvine, Ayrshire amid claims he had earlier spiked her drink.

The married 29-year-old was in the country despite his visa having expired.

He was also described as a “person of interest” for the Home Office as a result.

Kumar pleaded guilty to a rape charge at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lord Scott told him at Wednesday’s sentencing: “You chose to use violence to get what you wanted when you were well aware your victim did not consent.

“Your background report says that this was a serious sexual offence involving the use of violence, coercion and physical restraint to overcome your victim’s lack of consent.

“You have destroyed all prospects of a medical career which you pursued when you came to the UK.

“It is necessary to punish you and to deter others from behaving in this way and to protect the public.

“This was a deliberate, sustained act of sexual violence against a young woman – culpability and harm is high.”

Kumar was put on the sex offenders register and given a non-harassment order which prohibits him from contacting his victim in any way for an indefinite period.

The court heard that the predator was a delivery driver for a local takeaway restaurant at the time of the attack last September 20.

It was there the 26-year-old victim got to know Kumar.

They went on to exchange Facebook messages and later agreed to go out together for a drink.

But, on the night they were to meet, Kumar cancelled at the last minute.

The woman instead visited a relative before going home.

It was when she was back in the early hours that Kumar texted asking would she still want to meet up.

The woman agreed, and Kumar and his friend then picked her up.

She was given alcohol to drink.

Kumar had faced an allegation that he did “supply her with an unknown substance or substances in a drink” for the purpose of “overpowering” her for sex.

Prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea to that charge.

It was said the woman was drunk and felt unwell at the flat.

Kumar soon began making “sexual advances” towards the vulnerable victim.

Prosecutor Lynsey Rodger said: “She repeatedly said ‘no’ and told him that she wanted to go home.

“He ignored her and told his friend to leave the room.”

Kumar went on to pin the victim to a bed, pulled off her clothes as well as his own.

The woman tried to wriggle away from the attacker.

Ms Rodger said: “She protested and he repeatedly told her to be quiet.”

The court was told the Kumar violently raped the woman.

The victim eventually managed to get up, but Kumar grabbed her again.

He drove her home after the attack. The woman’s relative and a friend were there.

She was described as “extremely distressed and incoherent” due to her ordeal.