A Basingstoke man that pleaded guilty to 16 different counts of rape has had his jail sentence extended to life imprisonment.
Romeo Cummins, of Fountains Close, Popley, will now serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars, following a decision by the Court of Appeal.
The 47-year-old preyed on a string of vulnerable women in north Hampshire between 2013 and 2016, and pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape, one sexual assault, and five drugs offences at a previous hearing.
This led to him being sentenced to 13 years and six months at Winchester Crown Court on August 15, although this punishment was deemed too lenient by the Attorney General’s office, who appealed the decision.
And Lady Justice Rafferty arrived at the same conclusion following the appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal in London today – instead handing Cummins a life sentence.
The court heard how Cummins’ offending originally came to light in February, when Hampshire Constabulary officers discovered more than 100 videos on his phone of sexual offences taking place, following a stop and search in Aldershot.
He was also found in possession of drugs, including crack cocaine, heroine, and sleeping tablets, with the phone footage clearly showing that some of the women were unconscious as he assaulted them, and may not have known it had happened.
Speaking after today’s sentencing, 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.”
Det Sgt Cronin added: “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 behavior, and devastating the lives of his victims.”