Ex-soldier jailed for raping woman and biting her face in ‘cannibalistic’ attack

Southwark Crown Court in south London (Picture: PA)

A former soldier who bit, stabbed and raped a woman in a ‘perverted and cannibalistic’ attack in his apartment has been jailed for 14 years.

Malawian Theodore Mkuzi, 42, put his victim through the terrifying ordeal after taking her back to his home in upmarket Maida Vale, London on January 3 last year.

He savagely bit her lips, nose and face while repeatedly raping her, Southwark crown court heard.

Police arrived at the flat in Greville Place – where apartments can fetch £2 million – to find Mkuzi naked in the living room and the woman in a bath full of blood-stained water.

Mkuzi admitted two counts of rape and two counts of unlawful wounding.

Sentencing Mkuzi, Judge Christopher Hehir referred to the victim’s impact statement.

He said: ‘The long-term effect is clear from her victim impact statement.

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‘It is utterly clear that what you did had the most devastating effect on her.

‘She describes her ordeal as being like a horror movie. She describes your conduct towards her as perverted and cannibalistic.

‘I do not think that you are a cannibal, but I understand why she would express herself in that way.

‘You told her that the two of you were going to die that day. Had Yonas Gurja not raised the alarm, and had the police not arrived on time, there is a very real possibility that you would have killed her.

‘You are a dangerous man. You pose a grave risk of physical and psychological harm to women.’

‘You must go to prison and remain in prison for a very long time.’

Matthew Dalton, prosecuting said early on January 3, 2022, the pair had been drinking together with his friend Mr Gurja before the pair had consensual sex.

Later while they were having sex again, Mkuuzi started biting her lips, nose and face with considerable force causing significant pain.

Mr Dalton said: ‘She made clear her discomfort and withdrew her consent.

‘She tried to push him off her, but he was holding her tight and restraining her. He bit her cheeks causing injury. She pleaded with him to stop.’

At this point Mr Gurja came into the room where he confronted Mkuzi.

The prosecutor said: ‘Mr Gurja told Mkuzi to stop. Mkuzi told him not to get involved.

‘Mr Gurja picked up a knife in self-defence. He ran to the lavatory and dropped from the second floor window, injuring himself while landing.

‘Mkuzi said that she and he were going to die that day.

‘Mkuzi obtained a large kitchen knife and stabbed her in the chest. She also sustained an injury to the back of her head.

‘He obtained some bottles of soft drink and poured it over her in an attempt to wash her of her injuries.’

The court heard he then ordered her to get into the bath and then raped her again.

Eventually police arrived to find the woman still in the bath.

Mr Dalton said: ‘The word blood bath is very apt, She was hysterical, her face was swollen and had difficulties communicating with the officers.’

She told the officers that she had been bitten and stabbed by Mkuzi.

Emma-Louise Heath, defending Mkuzi, said: ‘He has put his time in custody to good use. He has attended regular drug and alcohol awareness courses.

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‘What Mr Mkuzi has begun to do is to address those issues and those risks that make him a potential risk to the public.’

She said Mkuzi had pleaded guilty and therefore the woman did not have to give evidence.

Ms Mkuzi told the court that Mkuzi had come to the UK from Malawi 20 years ago, and had served in the British armed forces. After this, he worked as an HGV driver.

Mkuzi, of Kilburn, was jailed for 14 years with a six year extended license period.

He will serve at least two thirds of the sentence in custody, and no restraining order was imposed.

Judge Hehir said to Mkuzi: ‘You escaped a life sentence by a whisker.’

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The court heard the scene was like a ‘blood bath’.