- Fiji rugby star Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, sexually attacked three ladies in Cardiff
A prime rugby participant was right this moment jailed for intercourse assaults on three youngsters in a nightclub throughout boozy nights out together with his teammates.
Fiji worldwide Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, had been consuming with fellow rugby gamers three nights in a row forward of the Barbarians sport towards Wales when he groped his victims.
The former London Irish ahead was charged simply hours earlier than he was attributable to play in entrance of 70,000 individuals on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Cardiff Crown Court heard he had been downing drinks with fellow worldwide stars earlier than he sexually assaulted three younger ladies within the Revolution nightclub within the Welsh capital.
The victims, who didn’t know one another, all made complaints to the police concerning the assaults within the Vodka Revolution bar reverse Cardiff Castle.
Top rugby participant Api Ratuniyarawa (pictured), 37, was right this moment jailed for intercourse assaults on three youngsters in a nightclub throughout boozy nights out together with his teammates
Fiji worldwide Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, had been consuming with fellow rugby gamers three nights in a row forward of the Barbarians sport towards Wales when he groped his victims
Ratuniyarawa, of Kislingbury, Northampton, has been jailed for 2 years and 10 months
The court docket was proven three CCTV clips of every assault contained in the Revolution nightclub by prosecutor Heath Edwards.
Mr Edwards stated Ratuniyarawa had spent every week in Wales to arrange for the sport however, ‘seems to have spent lots of his nights socialising’.
In the primary clip, Mr Edwards stated the primary sufferer ‘was clearly resisting the defendant and attempting to maneuver away from him’ as he tried to kiss her while dancing.
The second clip, from the next evening, confirmed Ratuniyarawa ‘clearly intoxicated’ as he groped one other sufferer.
Whilst a 3rd clip reveals him choose up one other sufferer on to his lap earlier than he touched her sexually.
The court docket heard how the three separate assaults occurred on three completely different evenings on the bar to 3 19-year-old ladies.
One sufferer advised the court docket how Ratuniyarawa carried out the ‘stunning’ and ‘very painful’ assault.
She stated: ‘I’m definitely not the identical individual I used to be earlier than the assault.’
‘I wrestle to suppose it was OK to do that to a 19-year-old lady.’
She stated the star had ‘ruined my life by what he is finished’ and that she was in her ‘personal private hell.’
Cardiff Crown Court heard he had been downing drinks with fellow worldwide stars earlier than he sexually assaulted three younger ladies within the Revolution nightclub (pictured) in Cardiff
Rugby star Api Ratuniyarawa admitted two prices of assault by penetration and one in all sexual assault at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday
Another sufferer stated Ratuniyarawa had taken away her ‘id, self-worth and confidence’ and impacted her potential to be ‘intimate’ with romantic companions.
She stated she took consolation in the truth that she is ‘not alone on this’. She added: ‘I hope they’re getting the assistance they want.’
The third sufferer stated the influence of the assault had led her to go away her job and have suicidal ideas.
She stated: ‘I get emotional once I take into consideration the occasion. I have not returned to the place till lately, that took lots of braveness and trauma.’
The father-of-four admitted two prices of assault by penetration and one in all sexual assault.
Ruth Smith, defending, stated that Ratuniyarawa is ‘genuinely remorseful’ and ‘deeply ashamed’ of his actions.
‘He is solely chargeable for the occasions that unfolded’ and the ‘blame and guilt’ lies with him,
She added. ‘He has not solely let himself down and his household, but in addition his nation, it is a burden for which he’ll naked.’
Judge, Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke advised him that ‘for all three offences I do know you stopped as a result of others intervened.’
She added: ‘I settle for the regret and disgrace you’re feeling are real.’
Ratuniyarawa, of Kislingbury, Northampton, was jailed for 2 years and 10 months.
A 3 12 months restraining order was additionally granted to one of many complainants.
Ratuniyarawa was named within the Barbarians group for the sport – however was withdrawn from the match earlier than kick-off.
The Fiji worldwide, who was in his nation’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, had been named on the substitutes bench for the Wales v Barbarians sport.
The Barbarians are a particular group made up of gamers from groups around the globe.
Ratuniyarawa (pictured) was in Cardiff forward of a Barbarians match towards Wales final month
In a press release, Barbarian FC stated: ‘As quickly as we have been contacted by South Wales Police we cooperated totally, helping them with their enquiries.
‘On their recommendation we won’t remark any additional because the investigation is ongoing.’
He was first named in his nation’s squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and has 38 caps for the well-known ‘Flying Fijians’.
In September 2016, he signed for Northampton Saints earlier than becoming a member of London Irish final 12 months however the membership went into administration forward of the present season.
He had beforehand praised the assist of his spouse and household.
In an interview he stated: ‘I’m going dwelling and my spouse can be my coach at dwelling. She comes and watches the sport and tells me I dropped the ball right here and there, and it helps my sport.
‘My spouse is my largest critic and my largest coach as a result of she is aware of how I react to issues and what I must do to be higher.
‘I give credit score to her for that.’