Man, 45, accused of raping woman in car in Portchester appears in court

By Steve Deeks
Published 24th Oct 2023, 10:29 BST
Updated 24th Oct 2023, 10:29 BST
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A man accused of raping a woman in a car in Portchester has appeared in court.

Ioan-Cristian Manole, 45, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court charged with rape and assault by penetration following an incident around 3am on Saturday April 15. It is alleged the woman in her 40s was raped in a vehicle around the Castle Grove area – south of Portchester Precinct.

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Romanian national Manole, of Alder Road in Southampton, previously entered not guilty pleas to both charges and was granted conditional bail with an electronic curfew to remain indoors between 8pm - 6am. The court had heard this was to allow him to work as a lorry driver during the day and “provide financially for his family”.

Manole’s case is due for trial at Portsmouth Crown Court on November 27.

A police spokesman previously said: “Police were called to reports a woman in her 40s had been raped in a vehicle.”