Predatory Assault Shatters Teen’s Life in Aberdeen
Victor Popa, 35, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for brutally raping a 14-year-old girl he picked up from a taxi rank in Aberdeen. The attack occurred in the early hours of January 15, 2023, after Popa lured the intoxicated teenager into his vehicle under false pretenses.
The horrific assault took place in the Gordon’s Mills Place area, where the victim repeatedly “blanked out” due to her intoxication and trauma, leaving her physically and emotionally devastated.
Judge Details Devastating Impact on Victim
Presiding over the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Alison Stirling emphasized the profound and lasting damage inflicted on the girl. She described the victim’s ongoing struggle with complex PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
The judge cited a victim impact statement revealing the girl’s relentless torment: “She has been living a waking nightmare over and over again since she was 14 years old.” The trauma forced her to leave school after enduring relentless bullying, predominantly from boys.
The Emotional Toll
The judge recounted the victim’s harrowing experience of disclosing the assault to her mother, describing it as “awful” because she feared upsetting her family. The victim also endured invasive medical tests for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, leaving her feeling “dirty and humiliated.”
“It was terrifying for her at the age of 14 to think she could be pregnant to a rapist. Fortunately, she was not,” Judge Stirling remarked.
The Crime Unfolded: A Stranger’s Deceptive Offer
The court heard the teenager had been drinking with friends but became separated and headed to a taxi rank seeking a ride home. Popa, a stranger and not a licensed taxi driver, pulled up and offered her a lift.
“She waited for a long time but there were no taxis. Your car appeared and she thought you were a taxi,” the judge explained. Despite telling Popa she was only 14, intoxicated, and without money, he convinced her to enter his vehicle.
“She got into your car and blanked out,” the judge added, describing how the girl was so intoxicated she was unable to resist or move during the assault.
Compelling Evidence Secures Conviction
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) presented a robust case incorporating CCTV footage, text messages, and medical reports. The evidence confirmed significant physical injuries consistent with an assault inflicted while the victim was unconscious.
Despite Popa’s claims that the girl told him she was 18 and that the encounter was consensual, the jury found him guilty in January.
Background of the Offender
Popa, who attended school in Romania before relocating to the UK in 2015 and settling in Aberdeen in 2018, has held various jobs including hotel work, delivery driving, and roofing.
Alongside his 12-year sentence, Popa will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely and is legally prohibited from contacting his victim.
Authorities Condemn Attack and Praise Victim’s Bravery
Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook condemned the assault as a “predatory and deeply distressing attack on a child who was simply trying to get home safely.” She highlighted the meticulous police and prosecutorial efforts that secured justice.
“Violence against women and girls has no place in our society,” Cook stated. She commended the victim and her family for their courage throughout the legal process.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven McDonald echoed this praise, recognizing the victim’s bravery and the support from her family during the investigation by Police Scotland. He warned the public about Popa’s dangerous nature, emphasizing his exploitation of the young girl’s vulnerability.
