A RAPIST who fled to his native Ghana ahead of his trial for the ‘predatory’ assault of a 15-year-old girl in Rugby has been recaptured and jailed.
Ransford Buabeng, 35, formerly of Morris Close, Rugby and Wavebeck Court, Long Lawford, left the country in September 2016 while on court bail.
An international arrest warrant was issued after he and accomplice Christian Acheampong were found guilty of the rape following a trial at Warwick Crown Court in December 2016.
Buabeng was jailed for ten years in his absence.
Since he was captured in Ghana last May, Buabeng has been sharing a 19-bed cell with up to 42 other prisoners while awaiting extradition.
Appearing in court after being escorted back from Ghana by Det Sgt Gareth Unett, PC Ian McLeod, and Det Cons Jim Middleton of Warwickshire Police, he heard Judge Andrew Lockhart QC say that those 264 days would count towards his sentence.
Buabeng, now 35, pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to his bail, for which Judge Lockhart jailed him for six months – consecutive to the ten-year sentence for the rape.
He told Buabeng, who has also been ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and is likely to be deported after serving his sentence: “I have already sentenced you to ten years for the rape offence, which I consider to be a grave offence of its type.”
And he added: “I take the view you absconded in order that you might avoid justice, and you caused a rape trial to be disrupted. That is a serious matter.”
During the trial of the two men, prosecutor Peter Arnold said that in September 2012 three girls, aged between 15 and 16, had been out, and then went to Acheampong’s home where he and Buabeng plied them with alcohol.
The girls had too much to drink, and when one of them, a 15-year-old, went upstairs to go to the toilet, the two men dragged her into a bedroom and raped her.
Passing sentence in 2016, Judge Lockhart told Acheampong he and Buabeng had “showed no compassion”.
He added: “In my view this case was admirably investigated, in the best traditions of the Warwickshire Police Service.”
After Buabeng was imprisoned, Det Sgt Unett said: “After more than three years on the run, Ransford Buabeng has finally faced justice and is in jail where he belongs.
“We’re especially pleased for his victim, who showed great bravery in coming to police and giving evidence in court. While I’m sure she will never fully get over her ordeal, I hope seeing Buabeng behind bars gives her some form of closure.
“This case should send a warning to other criminals that justice knows no borders and we will work tirelessly to track you down wherever you are.
“I would like to thank the NCA international team and officials in Ghana who helped in locating him and ensuring his extradition.”
