A young woman was lured into a car by a couple and sexually assaulted as she walked home after a night out.
Both Joseph Penado and Michelle Cooper were jailed for the attack following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
The victim, in her 20s, was approached in the early hours of 29 July after walking alone up Woodborough Road in Nottingham.
Cooper, 50 of Stratford Close, Colwick approached the victim, and acted in a friendly manner showing concern for her welfare.
Penado, 20, of Woodborough Road, St Ann’s, then approached the girl and later sexually assaulted her.
The pair then lured the victim into their car and began to drive around St Ann’s.
They then stopped the car on Manning Street and Penado sexually assaulted the woman outside the car, while Cooper demanded the victim hand over her mobile phone.
They took advantage of a lone woman in a vulnerable position
But a CCTV operator had spotted what was going on and alerted police.
Both defendants denined the sexual assault and theft charges, but were convicted at a trial in January 2016.
Sentenced today at Nottingham Crown Court, Penado received a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, and Cooper was given three years.
Penado subsequently admitted a further charge of possessing a bladed article after officers found a knife at the scene.
Det Insp Yvonne Dales of Notts Police said: “This is a concerning case where the two defendants appear to have identified an intoxicated and thereby extremely vulnerable victim to prey on.
“Penado and Cooper will have been fully aware that the victim was in no position to give any consent to anything which was happening to her that night.
“It is distressing to know that there are people out there who will look to take advantage of a lone woman in a vulnerable position.”
Det Con Rebecca Butler added: “This case has been particularly harrowing for the victim, not only to have been subjected to such a horrific sexual assault but then to have to re-live it by being shown the CCTV of it happening during the trial.
“Credit must be paid to her for attending court and having the courage to give evidence and ensure that people like this are taken off our streets.”
