Seven years for rape

11:18am Friday 31st August 2001

A LEGAL executive wept in the dock as he was jailed for seven years for raping a woman.

Michael Hora, 34, of London Road, Bromley, attacked the woman on his former neighbour's bed.

Hora, who was working as a solicitor's clerk and studying for a law degree, claimed the woman consented to sex, but he was convicted at the Old Bailey on a unanimous verdict.

He wept as Judge Robert Seabrook said: “I am quite satisfied the jury has reached the right verdict. You controlled, bullied and threatened to humiliate this woman, and put her through a further ordeal by denying the offence.”

The court heard how Hora pounced on the woman at a house in Orpington after she spurned his advances.

He dragged the 32-year-old into the bedroom, ordered her to undress and then raped her.

Father-of-three Hora knew the woman but had become a control freak when she broke off their friendship.

After having a drink together at a pub on July 21 last year, Hora suggested they chat at the neighbour's home.

Prosecuting, Sean Larkin told the court: “There came a time when she wanted to go back home. But Mr Hora stood in the doorway and refused to let her.

“She went to the bathroom intending to get out of the window but he stopped her.

“She began to panic. Mr Hora grabbed hold of her arms and pushed her on to the floor.

“He then grabbed her by the wrists and dragged her along to the bedroom.

“She was screaming and trying to fight him off. She scratched his face and was shouting 'call the police'. He then made her lie down and raped her.”

Eventually the woman fled to a telephone box to call the police, but when officers arrived to arrest Hora he claimed the woman had initiated sex.

As he was led from the dock, he turned to the jury and said: “You got it wrong. I did not rape her.”

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