29 year old Josemar Costa  of Cheltenham Street was found guilty of rape after a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He also pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. 

The court heard that on the evening of Tuesday 4 December 2014, Costa was at his work Christmas party in Oldham. He left a nightclub on Roscoe Street and approached a woman sat with a group on the pavement and tried to pull her to her feet. The woman resisted but Costa continued to pull her arms until she was forced to stand to her feet because of the pain he was causing in her shoulders. 

Costa then pulled her towards him and tried to kiss her, before sexually assaulting her. The victim was very distressed by this, the rest of the group stepped in to help her and Costa pushed her to the floor, before fleeing. 

During the early hours of Friday 5 December 2014, Costa went back to his flat with a number of other people from the Christmas party and continued to drink alcohol. 

Sometime later, Costa’s second victim was chatting with friends in another room when he approached her and carried her out of the room against her will. He took her into the bathroom and tried to kiss her before attempting to sexually assault her. The victim pleaded for him to stop but he continued and then he raped her.   

Costa was later arrested in connection with the offences before being charged. 

He was sentenced to a total of eight years for both offences, will have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was also issued with four restraining orders. 

Detective Constable Christian Julien from GMP’s Phoenix Oldham Team said: “Costa preyed on his victims and subjected them to vile sex attacks without giving any thought to the traumatic impact it would have on them. 

“The victims have been extremely brave throughout this investigation and I would like to thank them for their help throughout. 

“I know this sentence cannot change what has happened but this man is now behind bars where he can’t target any more innocent women.” 

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