A SERIAL rapist from Basingstoke is facing life in prison after the Court of Appeal increased his sentence today.

Romeo Cummins, 47, of Fountains Close, Popley, was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison at Winchester Crown Court in August, after pleading guilty to 16 counts of rape, one sexual assault and five drugs offences.

But his sentence was increased today to life after being referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General's Office, due to the lenience of the sentence.

Cummins admitted the sexual offences against five women, who he targeted between 2013 and 2016 in north Hampshire.

The offending came to light in February this year when officers arrested Cummins after he was stopped and searched in Aldershot, the court heard.

He was found in possession of drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, and sleeping tablets and prescription medicine.

When officers examined his phone, they found more than one hundred videos which contained footage of the sexual offences. It was clear from the footage that the women might not have known they had been sexually assaulted, the court heard.

Today, detective sergeant Lisa Cronin, from Northern CID, said: “Romeo Cummins preyed on vulnerable women over a period of three years and convinced them he had their best interests at heart.

“The trusting relationship he had developed with these women was completely destroyed when he sexually assaulted them while they were in an unconscious state, and filmed the ordeal.

“We are very pleased with the sentence delivered today. It is an accurate reflection of the nature of Cummins’ offending and the impact it has had on his victims. 

“Their courage and bravery, and the fact that they were able to endure the traumatic experience of being told and shown what he had done to them, has stopped this man from continuing this horrendous behaviour and devastating the lives of his victims."
 

After the original hearing, one of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: "When I found out I felt completely numb and sick – I went through a whole range of unpleasant feelings in the space of five minutes.

"Since then I have completely withdrawn. I would like to say I have stayed strong but it’s been a difficult few months."