A MAN has been found guilty of raping an 18-year-old university student, who he strangled to the point of unconsciousness in a "terrifying attack".

Jozef Janczura, 34, was convicted at Southampton Crown Court of the rape and assault causing actual bodily harm of the teenager, in the attack which happened on December 2, 2018, according to Hampshire Police.

The trial heard that the victim had gone for a late-night walk alone after socialising with friends at her halls of residence, when Janczura attacked her from behind and dragged her into Riverside Park in Southampton.

 

Martyn Booth, prosecuting, described how Janczura, from Southampton, was caught on CCTV following the teenager, before the attack.

He said: "She was walking down that path, she still had her headphones on, she was still listening to music, and all of a sudden she was attacked from behind her.

"The man grabbed her from behind, he had an arm around her neck, and with the other dragged her off the pathway into the park.

"She struggled, she tried to fight back her attacker, but he was able to overpower her and he forced her to the floor.

"She described the man as being on top of her while she was on the floor, and the man strangling her to the point she was in and out of consciousness, in that fuzzy state of mind."

He added: "This was a terrifying incident, one in which she genuinely thought she was going to die."

Mr Booth said that DNA taken from the victim matched the defendant, with the chances of it belonging to someone not related to him being a billion to one.

Judge Peter Henry remanded Janczura in custody to be sentenced on January 16.

Detective Inspector Roger Wood, of Hampshire Police, said: "I would like to commend the woman on her bravery and courage, which has helped secure this verdict against a very dangerous man.

"I hope this court result will go some way towards helping her start to move forward with her life."