A RAPIST has been jailed for eight years after he attacked a woman in a car park.

Witnesses described hearing a woman crying for help near The Anchorage in Gosport.

When police arrived, they spoke to the woman, aged in her 20s, who was found by members of the public in a distressed state.

She told police that she had been physically assaulted and then raped by a man known to her.

READ MORE: Sexual offences rise more than any other violent crime in Southampton, data shows

Levi Seriki-Walters, 35, of no fixed abode was subsequently arrested and charged with rape.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Seriki-Walters had been seen on CCTV chasing the woman from the scene, and forensic enquiries supported that he had raped her at around 1.40am on August 27, 2020.

He denied the offence and the case went to trial on Monday, April 4.

On April 12, the jury found Seriki-Walters guilty after deliberating for around two and a half hours.

READ MORE: Southampton spiking victim calls for 'emphasis on perpetrators' and end to 'lad culture'

Today, Seriki-Walters was sentenced to eight years in prison.

DC Jasmin Curson, from the Operation Amberstone team, said: “I want to commend the bravery of this woman for telling officers what had happened to her, and for working with police throughout the investigation and trial period.

“She experienced something terrible that no person should ever have to experience.

“The man responsible has now rightly been brought to justice and put behind bars where he can’t harm another person in this way.

“We take allegations of sexual offences incredibly seriously, and do everything in our power to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. We also work closely with a number of support agencies who provide specialist help to those who need it.

“Anyone who has been affected by this type of crime is encouraged to contact police on 101 where you can speak to a specially trained officer in confidence. We understand not everyone is comfortable talking to police, but please know that there are other independent support agencies out there that can provide you with the help you need.”

If you’ve been affected by sexual abuse, you can visit the police website for more information on support available. 

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News