A sex attacker who went on the run for eight years after raping a teenage girl outside an Aberdeen nightclub has finally been brought to justice.
Remus Covaciu had started a new life in France with a partner and two children when the authorities finally caught up with him.
He had been due to stand trial for the attack in November 2013 but failed to show up and fled the country.
Covaciu – now 27 – was eventually traced and extradited back to Scotland in April 2021 and has now pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
Prosecutor John McElroy today told how the victim had been at a friend’s birthday party on January 19 2013 before ending up at the Institute nightclub.
After leaving, CCTV showed her sitting on the pavement as Covaciu approached.
He had been living in the Torry area of the city at the time.
They were seen chatting and, at one stage, he puts his arm around the young woman, who was intoxicated.
Mr McElroy said Covaciu eventually “unfastened” his trousers, took advantage of the drunk victim and raped her.
No-show at first trial
He then walked off leaving the teenager on the ground.
A concerned CCTV operator alerted police to the victim in the street.
Mr McElroy: “When officers arrived, she was intoxicated, in a dishevelled state and had no recollection (of being attacked).
“Covaciu was traced to a nearby shop by police.”
Covaciu was held that night and first appeared in the dock days later.
His original trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in November 2013 was abandoned after he failed to show up.
A European Arrest Warrant was granted in July 2020.
Covaciu has now pled guilty to the rape charge as well as failing to show for the previous hearing and breaching bail.
Lady Drummond remanded the Romanian in custody and deferred sentencing until next month in Aberdeen.
She also put him on the sex offenders list.
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