Man guilty of raping teenager in Old Town, Swindon

A man from Lyneham has been found guilty of raping a teenager in Old Town, Swindon.

Rooney Gardi, 23, of Calne Road, Lyneham, was found guilty by trial at Swindon Crown Court on Monday March 3.

On June 30, 2024, Gardi's teenage victim was found unconscious in the car park on Dammas Lane during the early hours. She was found by members of the public with no memory of the last few hours, missing her underwear and with injuries to her face and body.

Detective Constable Anna McCormack from CID said, "Gardi is a sexual predator who admitted sexual contact but denied the more serious charge. He took advantage of a young girl who was vulnerable.

"I want to thank the victim in this investigation, who is only 18 and who still has no memory of the incident. She has shown strength and courage throughout the investigation and has put her trust in the police to piece together what happened to her that night.

"I also want to thank the members of the public and the community wardens who initially attended to the victim, who, once presented with what they found, identified that she had been the victim of a sexual attack. Without their tenacity and quick thinking to contact the police and protect the scene, it is possible a lot of crucial evidence in this case could have been lost.

"Members of our community should be allowed to go on a night out with friends for drinks without having to fear that they are going to become the victim of such violence against them. But if you believe you have been the victim of sexual violence, even if you cannot remember all the details, please be reassured that we will investigate fully."

Gardi has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on April 14.

If you believe you have been a victim of sexual assault you can find information on how to report as well as support agencies here: Rape and sexual assault | Wiltshire Police