An worldwide rugby participant who had been as a consequence of play for the Barbarians has been sentenced to 2 years and 10 months for a collection of sexual offences.
Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, admitted two counts of assault by penetration and one cost of sexual assault at a listening to in December in relation to a few younger girls.
The Fiji lock had been as a consequence of function on the bench for the Barbarians of their match in opposition to Wales on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 4 November 2023.
Cardiff Crown Court beforehand heard the offences befell between 31 October and a couple of November final 12 months.
Ratuniyarawa, who lives in Northamptonshire, denied two additional costs of sexual assault regarding one of many three girls.
The court docket beforehand heard the father-of-four had been and not using a membership because the summer time when premiership facet London Irish went into receivership.
A sentencing listening to on Tuesday was advised Ratuniyarawa had travelled to Cardiff forward of the Barbarians match, “to attend media commitments and training for the fixture”.
Prosecuting, Heath Edwards KC mentioned “the defendant appears to have spent many of his nights socialising” within the week previous to the sport.
The prosecution mentioned Ratuniyarawa attended the Revolution bar in Cardiff on the evenings of 31 October, 1 November and a couple of November.
The court docket was proven CCTV footage of all three incidents from the bar’s VIP space.
One of his victims learn her affect assertion in court docket.
“My attack came out of the blue. It was sudden, shocking,” she mentioned.
“I feel degraded, embarrassed and humiliated. I still do.”
She mentioned the incident had “started not just to impact [her] but [her] family”.
“I should be excited to be going out with my friends, but I can’t stop thinking about what has happened,” she added.
“He’s ruined my life by what he’s done, and I feel like I’m in my own personal hell.”
She advised the court docket she had been “such an independent person” previous to the incident.
“I couldn’t shower until I’d been examined and all I wanted to do was wash that man off me,” she mentioned.
“This man had his whole career ahead of him, and such a high-profile person. He did this to me.”
In mitigation, Ruth Smith KC mentioned the defendant wish to apologise for his actions however that he had “limited recollection” of the incidents.
“The defendant would like, through me, as an initial statement, to apologise to each of the victims in this case,” she mentioned.
“The consumption of alcohol for him in such quantities was completely out of character.”
Ms Smith advised the court docket Ratuniyarawa had “never drunk that much before in his entire life”.
“This incident fell at a time of upheaval in the personal life of the defendant,” she added.
“He was without employment. He is a gentlemen that supports not only his immediate family financially, but a range of others financially. And it resulted in a situation of stress for him,” Ms Smith mentioned.
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The court docket heard the defendant had been described “by those that run Fiji Rugby as a dedicated and valuable asset”.
“He knows his legacy is forever tarnished with behaviour that is reflected in these counts,” Ms Smith added.
“He has not only let himself down, his family, but also his country in respect of his behaviour.”
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke additionally granted a restraining order of three years in relation to one of many victims.
Source: information.sky.com”