TAULANT KRASNIQI SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS IN KINGSTON FOR RAPE

A man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman he met at a nightclub in Kingston. Taulant Krasniqi, aged 25 (born 21 November 1996) and residing on Cottingham Road, Feltham, was convicted at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, 5 April. He had previously pleaded guilty to voyeurism and theft during the proceedings, with these charges relating to incidents that occurred on Sunday, 12 November 2017.

On that day, Krasniqi attended a nightclub in Kingston, where he approached a woman in her twenties on the dancefloor. The woman agreed to go home with Krasniqi but went to sleep in her bedroom. She later woke briefly to find Krasniqi sitting at the foot of her bed with her phone in his hand. When she regained full consciousness, Krasniqi was no longer there.

Later that day, a friend of the woman contacted her, revealing she had received a Snapchat video from an unknown sender showing the woman lying naked in bed, along with an empty condom wrapper. The woman then contacted the police, as she had not consented to sexual activity with Krasniqi.

An investigation was launched, leading to Krasniqi’s identification and arrest. He claimed that the sexual encounters had been consensual. During the investigation, his phone was seized, and analysis revealed videos showing Krasniqi having sex with the woman. Throughout these videos, the woman is not actively engaging, indicating she was not in a position to consent. Additionally, messages from Krasniqi’s phone showed he had spoken to friends about taking items from the woman’s room, including an Oyster Card and an iPod.

Krasniqi was charged accordingly and pleaded guilty in court. Detective Inspector Julian Crabb stated: "Krasniqi knew that the woman he had gone home with was in no position to consent to sexual activity, yet he took advantage of this situation and raped her. He also filmed her without her knowledge and shared this content on social media. His behaviour is truly abhorrent, and I am pleased that he has received a lengthy prison sentence that reflects the seriousness of his crimes."

DI Crabb also commended the bravery of the woman, saying: "She has shown immense courage in reporting this to police and supporting the investigation. I hope this sentencing offers her some closure and aids in her ability to move forward with her life."

He concluded by highlighting the importance of support for victims, noting that anyone reporting a sexual offence will be assisted by specially trained officers. In this case, PC Sheena Woodward’s dedicated efforts were instrumental in securing the conviction.