A man who raped and sexually assaulted a woman at Makoi in Nasinu last year has been jailed for eight years and two months.

Justice Thushara Rajasinghe also imposed a non-parole period of six years and two months.

Court records showed the accused, a first offender, had met the complainant at a bus stop at around 7pm on June 11 last year.

While she was waiting for a bus to go home, the accused grabbed and pulled her behind a supermarket and committed the offence.

“Rape is one of the most humiliating and distressing crimes. It violates the physical self of a person and destroys the personal dignity and self-autonomy of a person. Therefore, rape is a serious offence,” Justice Rajasinghe said in his ruling.

“The complainant had seen you before, but there is no information before the court on whether she knew you well. The prosecution decided to not tender a victim impact report, making it difficult for the court to properly evaluate the level of harm caused by the incident to the complainant.

“You carried out this sexual assault when the complainant was alone and waiting for the bus at the bus stop in the late evening. You employed a substantial amount of force on the complainant, I therefore, find the level of culpability in this offence is high.”

The man has 30 days to appeal.