A FORMER boss of two men jailed for 14 years each for the “predatory” gang rape of a woman outside Farnham Library has expressed his “disgust” at their actions – not least because one was a family man.

Nicolae Dragoi, a 42-year-old married father of one from Crondall Lane, Farnham, and Constantin Ionescu, 36, of Station Hill, Farnham, followed their victim along West Street in the early hours of Sunday, December 9, 2018, before assaulting her close to the library building.

They were spotted by a member of the public who raised the alarm but both men fled the scene before police arrived, leaving their victim lying on the ground in a pool of vomit.

However, they were quickly tracked down when Russell White, the manager at Cote Brasserie in Farnham where the pair were both employed, identified the duo from CCTV images released by the police, published by the Herald and shared on the Farnham Rants Facebook page.

The pair were subsequently arrested and forensic testing later matched DNA found on the victim to both of the men.

It also emerged during their two-week trial at Guildford Crown Court that the duo further implicated themselves when phone records showed they had themselves looked at the CCTV appeal on the Herald website.

Despite this, they denied any wrong-doing but were found guilty and sentenced to 14 years each on Monday, February 24.

Mr White told the Herald Ionescu had only worked at Cote for three months – but his accomplice Dragoi had worked at the popular restaurant for some two years and was a “very hard worker” and “very pleasant”.

“He got on well with everyone, he was good at his job, and when we first heard about what he had done, everyone was just in disbelief as he’s got a wife and a kid!”, said the manager.

“I was shocked and disgusted at the same time. I’ve lived in Farnham my whole life, and having two children, one being a daughter, made it all the worse. Which is why when the police turned up, I did whatever I could to try and help them arrest these two.”

Detective Inspector Adam Tatton, said after the trial: “This was a predatory attack on a woman who was actively targeted by these two men. They pursued her through Farnham town centre and once isolated, subjected her to a traumatic assault.

“The strength and courage demonstrated by the victim throughout the course of this investigation and subsequent trial has led to the conviction of both defendants who, had they not been caught, would have continued to pose a significant risk to others.

“I hope this case sends a clear message to anyone who has been, or believes they have been, the victim of a serious sexual assault that we will take their allegation seriously.”

Inspector Gary Smith, borough commander for Waverley, added: “I would like to thank the local media and the public for the huge part they played in assisting the investigation.

“The information which we received as a result of the media appeal was crucial in helping us secure the conviction of the two defendants.

“This has shown the strength of the community in Farnham who not only came to the aid of the victim but who worked with us and gave us information that ultimately helped bring the victim’s attackers to justice.”