Api Ratuniyarawa pleaded responsible to 2 expenses of assault by penetration and one cost of sexual assault; the 37-year-old was launched on conditional bail with the case adjourned till January 9 for sentencing
Final Up to date: 04/12/23 4:28pm
Api Ratuniyarawa shall be sentenced in January
Fiji worldwide Api Ratuniyarawa is going through jail after admitting a sequence of sexual offences dedicated days earlier than he was on account of play for the Barbarians.
The 37-year-old appeared earlier than Cardiff Crown Courtroom and pleaded responsible to 2 expenses of assault by penetration and one cost of sexual assault.
The lock had been on account of be on the bench for the Barbarians in opposition to Wales on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on November 4.
The offences have been dedicated in opposition to three girls and befell between October 31 and November 2 this yr, the courtroom heard.
Ratuniyarawa, of The Orchard, Kislingbury, Northamptonshire, denied two additional expenses of sexual assault referring to one of many three girls.
Prosecutors stated the pleas have been acceptable to the Crown and invited the courtroom to repair a date for sentencing.
The daddy-of-four, who has additionally performed for Northampton Saints and in France, has been with no membership since Premiership membership London Irish went into receivership in the summertime, the courtroom heard.
Ratuniyarawa has been with no membership since London Irish collapsed
He hoped his look for the Barbarians invitational facet would result in profitable a brand new taking part in contract however has since been compelled to use for advantages.
Ruth Smith, defending, requested for the defendant to be launched on bail and for a pre-sentence report back to be ready.
“The defendant has been on conditional bail, and he is aware of the significance of his pleas and the type of sentence that flows from such pleas,” she stated.
“He has been on very stringent conditions, and these are matters [that] arose out of primarily the consumption of alcohol.
“He’s somebody who has very mounted ties to the UK and has performed rugby right here for a major variety of years.
“His wife and four young children are resident here and have their own right to remain here and two of his children were born in the UK. He is not a flight risk.
“There are important issues he must put in place for his household, not least to alter the tenancy of their home over to his spouse’s title in addition to collect mitigation supplies.
“The defendant is the sole breadwinner for the family. He was recently employed by London Irish who in fact unfortunately collapsed in May 2023 and was present in Cardiff to play in a Barbarians game.
“It was hoped a contract would possibly movement from that, that after all due to these occasions, didn’t occur.
“Because of that, he has had to apply for benefits for his family. Again, those are not absolutely in place. He has various appointments in place in respect of securing financial stability for his family.”
Choose Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, The Recorder of Cardiff, launched Ratuniyarawa on conditional bail.
This contains residing at his dwelling tackle, abiding by an in a single day curfew, reporting day by day to his native police station, surrendering his passport, not getting into any licenced premises and solely travelling to Wales for appointments.
“Now you have pleaded guilty to these offences the case will be adjourned until January 9 next year for sentence,” she stated.
“I am going to order a pre-sentence report but you should read nothing into that, neither should you read anything into the fact that I am going to release you on conditional bail.”
Ratuniyarawa was additionally positioned on the sexual offenders’ register.
