A man who raped a woman in a field as she made her way home from a night out in Cornwall has been jailed for 18 years.

Eugen Simion, 21, a Romanian national living on Praze Road, Camborne, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Monday (18 August) after being found guilty of rape following a trial.

The attack

The court heard how, at around 1.40am on 2 February 2025, the victim arrived at Camborne Police Station barefoot, distressed and with muddy clothing. She reported that she had been raped in a nearby field approximately 30 minutes earlier.

She explained she had been out in Camborne town centre but, unable to secure a taxi, began walking home. CCTV showed her unsteady on her feet before being approached by an unknown man who tried to kiss her. She pushed him away but later recalled being raped in a dark field.

When she reached the police station, she realised several items were missing from her handbag. Some were later recovered by officers during a fingertip search of the scene.

The investigation

Detectives quickly began searching for the attacker and identified Simion through CCTV enquiries. He was arrested on 6 February.

During police interviews, Simion claimed he had also been out drinking in Camborne and was walking home when he met the victim, who appeared intoxicated. He alleged the woman had initiated sex before asking him to stop, which he said he did.

He admitted running from the scene but claimed it was because it was late and cold. He also admitted taking the woman’s bank card, telling officers he mistook it for his own due to the darkness.

The verdict

The jury rejected Simon’s account and convicted him of rape