Key Points
- Prison Sentence: Cambridge Crown Court sentenced 46-year-old Darius Andrulionis, of Balding Close, Wisbech, to seven years in prison followed by a six-year extended licence.
- Attack Details: Andrulionis targeted an intoxicated woman near a Wisbech petrol filling station late at night, dragged her into bushes, and raped her.
- Judge’s Comments: Judge Andrew Hurst called Andrulionis “predatory” and “dangerous,” noting he showed no remorse and was only “faintly familiar” with consent.
- Court Orders: Alongside his jail term, Andrulionis was signed onto the Sex Offenders Register for life, given an indefinite restraining order, and ordered to pay a £228 surcharge.
- Police Reaction: Detective Constable Michael Childs commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward to support the prosecution.
Wisbec (Cambridge Tribune) September 18, 2026 – A 46-year-old man described as a “predatory” and “dangerous” offender has been jailed for seven years following a brutal late-night sexual assault near a petrol filling station in Wisbech. Darius Andrulionis, of Balding Close, Wisbech, appeared before Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, where he was handed a custodial sentence alongside an extended six-year licence period.
As reported by reporter Neil Docwra of Greatest Hits Radio (Cambridgeshire), Andrulionis began speaking to the victim late at night before isolating her and carrying out the attack near a local filling station. Court records confirm that Andrulionis initially entered a plea of not guilty to one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over, but subsequently changed his plea to guilty prior to the commencement of a full trial.
Presiding over the case, His Honour Judge Andrew Hurst delivered a scathing assessment of the defendant’s actions and character during the sentencing hearing. As reported by legal correspondent Duty News Team of Cambridgeshire Live, Judge Hurst stated directly to the defendant that he had “simply dragged her away in the dark to satisfy your lust,” explicitly characterizing the forced movement of the victim as an act of “abduction”.
What Happened During the Late-Night Incident in Wisbech?
The court heard comprehensive details outlining how the assault transpired in the market town of Wisbech. The prosecution detailed that Andrulionis encountered the victim after a night out when she was in a state of high intoxication and extreme vulnerability.
According to official press releases issued by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Andrulionis struck up a conversation with the woman before forcibly pulling her into nearby bushes. The victim attempted to reason with the perpetrator and pleaded with him to stop, but Andrulionis ignored her requests and continued the violent assault. She was only able to break free and flee the scene once the rape had been completed.
Police were alerted shortly after the incident, and officers launched an immediate investigation. Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed that Andrulionis was identified, located, and arrested by police officers the following day.
What Remarks Did the Presiding Judge and Investigating Officers Make?
During sentencing proceedings at Cambridge Crown Court, the severity of the offence and the ongoing risk posed by the defendant formed a central theme of the court’s findings.
As reported by Cambridgeshire Live, Judge Andrew Hurst noted that the victim was “extremely vulnerable” and emphasized that Andrulionis “must have seen and known that” when he chose to target her. Addressing the defendant’s state of mind and lack of accountability, Judge Hurst observed that Andrulionis did not “express remorse” for his actions, ultimately concluding that the defendant was a “dangerous” individual who was only “faintly familiar” with the basic concept of consent and posed a “substantial risk” to women.
In mitigation, the defense counsel submitted that Andrulionis had no prior convictions for sexual offences and highlighted that he had lived in the United Kingdom for a decade, during which he was described as an “exemplary worker”. However, court records noted two prior convictions for drink driving offences occurring in 2020 and 2022.
Following the court outcome, Detective Constable Michael Childs, who led the police investigation, issued an official statement regarding the conviction. As documented by the Cambridgeshire Constabulary News Desk, DC Childs stated:
“Andrulionis is a predator who preyed on a victim in a vulnerable state and the lengthy sentence handed down reflects this. I would like to pay tribute to the victim; her bravery in coming forward and supporting us with a prosecution is admirable and has led to a dangerous man being jailed for a long time.”
Alongside his primary seven-year prison sentence and six-year extended licence, Judge Hurst ordered that Andrulionis be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Furthermore, the court issued an indefinite restraining order protecting the victim from any future contact and mandated the payment of a £228 victim surcharge.
What Is the Background of Sexual Offence Prosecutions in Wisbech and Cambridgeshire?
The conviction and sentencing of Darius Andrulionis represent part of an ongoing, concerted push by Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) across Fenland and the wider county.
Wisbech, a historic market town in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, has seen increased policing focus on public space safety, nighttime economy patrolling, and street lighting illumination around commercial zones such as filling stations, retail parks, and public footpaths. Over recent years, local policing teams have prioritized immediate intervention protocols for late-night reports of personal violence and predatory behaviour.
This sentencing aligns with updated national judicial guidelines in England and Wales that mandate extended licence conditions and lifetime registration on the Sex Offenders Register for individuals deemed by the court to pose a significant ongoing threat of serious sexual harm to the public.
How Could This Judicial Outcome Affect the Local Community and Public Safety?
The sentencing of Darius Andrulionis carries broad implications for various groups within the local area, particularly residents of Wisbech, visitors to the nighttime economy, and victims of sexual violence.
- Impact on the Local Community and Women’s Safety: The removal of a declared dangerous offender from the streets provides tangible reassurance to residents in Wisbech. By handing down an extended 13-year total sentence structure (seven years custodial plus six years on licence), the court has established a strict perimeter of monitoring that significantly mitigates the public risk posed by the defendant.
- Encouragement for Victims to Report: The quick arrest within 24 hours and the eventual conviction demonstrate the operational capacity of local police to investigate sexual offences thoroughly and support survivors through the judicial process. This outcome is expected to bolster public confidence in law enforcement, encouraging other victims of non-consensual violence to report incidents without fear of inaction.
- Operational Strategy for Local Policing: The emphasis placed on night-time vulnerabilities during the trial is likely to influence police deployment strategies around commercial hubs, transport nodes, and late-night establishments in Wisbech, reinforcing proactive measures aimed at curbing predatory behavior in public spaces.
