A MAN has been jailed for eight years after attempting to rape a foreign student in a Reading alleyway and then attempting to flee the country.

Sagar Gurung, 27, followed the complainant, who had only been in England for several months when the incident took place, back to her student accommodation in the early hours on November 6, 2022.

He sexually assaulted her and attempted to rape her before booking a one-way ticket to Hong Kong three days later in ‘attempts to flee justice’.

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At Reading Crown Court on Tuesday (August 8), Judge Hassan Khan sentenced him to eight years imprisonment for the main count of attempted rape, with an extended licence period of four years.

Gurung, of Salisbury Road, Reading, was found guilty by a jury on May 10 of attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of kidnap.

The court heard that it was about 3am and the victim was walking back after a night out with friends in the rain when Gurung grabbed her in Queens Walk.

He then sexually assaulted and attempted to rape her.

Summarising the incident, Judge Khan said: “You suddenly grabbed her from behind and pulled her onto your lap.

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“She said, ‘Please let me go’. You said, ‘Shut the f*** up, I don’t care.’ She tried to crawl away from you but she fell onto the ground.

“You then took her from that place to a darker part of the precinct of the student accommodation. You pushed her up against a fire exit door, bashing her face.

“You pulled her hat down over her face and put your hand over her mouth to stop her shouting.”

A member of staff at the student accommodation heard the victim shouting and asked if she needed help. Gurung let her go and ran from the scene.

Three days later, police caught him packing up his flat and loading a van with suitcases and boxes. It was discovered he had booked a one-way ticket to Hong Kong. He was arrested and charged.

A victim impact statement written by the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was read out in court.

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It read: “This incident had the greatest impact on my heart than I’ve ever felt. I think I went into shock after it happened.

“I cried every day, several times a day until I fell asleep. I still had to continue with my routine, but I could not concentrate in my studies - I had to postpone my exams.”

Gurung, who was drunk during the attack, told the court he had thought the victim was his ex-girlfriend and believed his drinks had been spiked.