Couple jailed for sex offences and blackmail
Indre Bruziene and Vasile Radacanu have been imprisoned for a total of 15 years and nine months.
A woman who was sexually abused by a rapist and had her ordeal filmed by his partner in Sheerness, has seen the pair jailed.
On 18 September 2020, Indre Bruziene and her partner Vasile Radacanu invited the victim to their address, where they drank some alcoholic drinks.
After the victim became intoxicated, Radacanu raped her whilst she was unable to consent and was at one point unconscious.
Bruziene filmed the abuse through a window and then from inside the house. It was apparent Radacanu was aware his actions were being filmed as he gestured to the camera several times.
The woman awoke the next morning in her own bed at home. She had no memory of what had happened to her.
On 15 March 2021, Bruziene phoned the woman, accusing her of breaking up her family. Bruziene also sent footage of the rape incident and demanded £5,000 or it would be sent to the victim’s husband.
The woman refused to pay and went to the police. Radacanu, who is Romanian, and Bruziene, from Lithuania, were both arrested the following day.
Police seized their mobile phones and, following an investigation, Radacanu was charged with two rapes, attempted rape and two sexual assaults. Bruziene was charged with blackmail.
The pair pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and, following a trial, were convicted of the indictments on 28 January 2025.
Last Thursday, Radacanu, 33, was sentenced to 12 years and a half years imprisonment.
40 year-old Bruziene was jailed for three years and three months.
Detective Constable Hollie Brown said:
‘The criminal actions of Radacanu and Bruziene were unspeakably vile as they took advantage of a vulnerable victim who was not aware of what was happening to her.'
‘As soon as the victim received the video of her abuse from Bruziene she showed great courage in disclosing her ordeal to her family and then contacting the police. Detectives then swiftly secured the offenders phones and they have now, quite rightly, been brought to justice.’