Man jailed for raping woman as she walked home in Camborne
A man who raped a woman in a field as she made her way home from a night out has been given an 18-year sentence.
Eugen Simion, 21, a Romanian national who was at the time residing on Praze Road, Camborne, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Monday 18 August having been found guilty by a jury of rape following a trial.
During the trial, the court heard how at around 1.40am on 2 February 2025 the victim attended Camborne Police Station on foot, in a distressed state with muddy clothing and no shoes.
The victim immediately disclosed that she had been raped by an unknown male 30 minutes prior in a field nearby.
She described how she had been out in Camborne town centre, before trying to get a taxi. When this was unsuccessful, she made her way home on foot.
CCTV footage showed the victim unsteady on her feet. She recalled being approached by an unknown male who tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away.
The victim told officers that the next thing she could remember was being raped by the man in a dark field.
A number of items were missing from her handbag on arrival at the police station. Some of the items were later recovered at the scene during a fingertip search.
Officers immediately set about finding the suspect and identified Simion through CCTV enquiries. He was arrested on 6 February.
In interview Simion said he too had been out with friends in Camborne but had gone home as he was too drunk.
He stated that he came across the victim who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Simion then claimed that the victim initiated sex before asking him to stop, which he did.
Simion said he could be seen running from the scene in footage because it was late, dark and cold and he wanted to get home. He added that he took the victim’s bank card as he thought it was his due to the darkness.
Following the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Rob Smith from the Major Crime Investigation team said: “This was a particularly distressing attack on a lone woman who was walking home after an evening out.
“Eugen Simion targeted her and subjected her to a violent sexual assault.
“This incident has had a profound impact on the victim, who should have been able to walk home perfectly safely. She has demonstrated immense bravery and ensured we were able to bring Simion to justice.
“I would like to thank her for remaining engaged throughout the court proceedings and I hope she is now able to start to move on with her life.
“Anybody who has been the victim of rape and sexual violence is encouraged to report it to us immediately. They will be supported every step of the way by our specially trained officers.”
Support available
If you have been affected by this article there is support available.
You can visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.
You can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
Advice and support can also be found at:
National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626
For more information please visit: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault
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