Two brothers who raped a woman following a Christmas event have been jailed for a total of 18 years.
Marius Todoran, 40, and Vasile Todoran, 43, were convicted following a complex investigation by specialist Metropolitan Police detectives and sentenced on Wednesday at Kingston Crown Court.
The attack occurred in December 2023 when the victim, a woman in her 40s, encountered Vasile Todoran after leaving a Christmas event in Queensbury, north-west London.
CCTV showed her repeatedly trying to escape before being forcibly taken to the address where the Todoran brothers rented a room, where she was raped.
The case was initially dismissed in November 2024 when a judge ruled there was no case to answer, but detectives and prosecutors challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, leading to a full retrial and ultimately, the brothers’ conviction.
Marius Todoran was sentenced to eight years in prison for rape, while Vasile Todoran was sentence to 10 years for rape, kidnap, and kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.
Both men have also been added to the sex offenders’ register for life.
The complex police investigation involved extensive analysis of CCTV, phone data, and key witness statements, as well as carrying out urgent forensic submissions.
Detective Sergeant Josh Dwyer, who led the investigation, said: "First and foremost, I want to commend the bravery of the victim-survivor.
"She has shown remarkable strength and courage in speaking to police and throughout the investigation and trial. Her testimony was instrumental in ensuring justice was achieved.
"The impact of this case cannot be undone by today’s sentencing, but we hope that it provides a small amount of closure."
After the sentencing hearing, the victim thanked police for their support, saying she did not think she would have been able to get through the trial without the officers’ help and care.
She added: “I would also like to say to whoever reads this to trust and call the police when something happens to them.”
The Met has has rolled out new, bespoke training to 23,000 officers and staff, focused on improving the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences and enhancing victim support.
They have said that the training has seen stronger outcomes for victims and survivors, with the Met tripling charges for rape and serious sexual offences and more victims are reporting offences to police.
Dwyer said: "The Met remains committed to tackling violence against women and girls, removing dangerous offenders from London’s streets, and ensuring victims-survivors get the right support at every stage of the criminal justice process.
"That is why the original court decision - that there was insufficient evidence to proceed - was challenged, and the tenacity of the Met investigation team and prosecutors has ensured the Todoran brothers have been held to account for their horrific behaviour."
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.
