Joseph Tsang was arrested in Hong Kong where he has family ties
A rapist who fled to Hong Kong before his trial has been sentenced in his absence to 15 years in prison.
Joseph Tsang, 31, of Sandy Lane, Oxford, was convicted in August at the city's Crown Court of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Passing sentence, Judge Patrick Eccles described him as "a predatory man with an unhealthy sexual fascination with adolescent girls".
Tsang was arrested in Hong Kong in September and is facing extradition.
The Chinese national committed the offences in Hampshire against a teenage girl.
When he fled the IT worker was also awaiting sentence for other crimes carried out in Oxfordshire, including three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and making 23 indecent images of children.
The judge said Tsang's behaviour in absconding to Hong Kong was "extremely rare" and that he would face a further punishment for it when he is eventually extradited.
In victim impact statements read out in court the girls Tsang abused, who were just 14 and 15 at the time, described how the "nightmare" of what he did to them changed their lives.
Both said they have since suffered depression and anxiety and have struggled at school following their ordeals.
Speaking outside court the victims both said they were happy with the sentence and felt justice had been done.
- Published28 August 2015
