Fabrice Kapena will serve 13 years behind bars with an extended seven-year licence after a Manchester Crown Court jury convicted him of raping a woman he lured from a Deansgate bar in August 2022.

The 32-year-old, of Bridgelea Road, Manchester, received the sentence on 24 February 2025 for rape, robbery, theft and strangulation. The court heard how, in the early hours of 7 August 2022, Kapena approached a woman enjoying a night out and claimed he could get her group into another venue. Once she entered his car, he drove out of the city centre, ignored promises to collect her friends, and turned threatening. On a quiet road he strangled and raped her, continuing even as she fought back, scratching his face while fearing for her life. After escaping the vehicle she rang the bell of a nearby care home around 3 am; a care assistant called 999 and officers ensured she received specialist support.

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police identified Kapena, executed a warrant at his home and arrested him. The investigation also linked him to two earlier crimes: in February 2022 a woman who left his address discovered her phone and bank card missing from her bag, and on 31 July he drove another woman to Withington, threatened her, stole her phone and punched her to the ground, leaving her stranded until she flagged down a bus.

Detective Inspector Andy Worthington said: “Kapena’s disgusting crimes have now resulted in a lengthy prison sentence, and I am glad that he is now behind bars for his offences. Fabrice Kapena is a dangerous individual who subjected a woman to a vicious attack and I want to commend her bravery during this process, which I know has been incredibly difficult. I would urge any victims of sexual offences to get in touch with us. You will be listened to, believed, and we will do our best to get you the justice you deserve.”

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