Italian Men Found Guilty of Four Counts of Rape in Soho Nightclub Attack
Ferdinando Orlando, 25, and Lorenzo Costanzo, 26, both Italian nationals living in Italy, have been found guilty of four counts of rape — two counts each.
Brutal Attack Caught on CCTV
Detective Sergeant Rebecca Woodsford, who led the investigation since 2017, described the verdict as “the best possible outcome” from a traumatic ordeal for the victim. She said the victim suffered severe injuries and feared she had been raped, prompting a major police probe.
The attack took place on the night of 25 February 2017 at a Soho nightclub on Argyll Street. The victim, then 23, was out with friends when the two men entered the club. They had no prior connection to her.
After about half an hour, the men approached the victim on the dancefloor. She was visibly intoxicated and unsteady as the duo danced and kissed her. Within eight minutes, they led her into a maintenance room and committed the rape. Afterward, they rearranged her clothes and took her to the female toilets. Orlando and Costanzo then fled, high-fiving and reviewing footage of the assault on a mobile phone.
Victim Found in Severe Pain
The victim was found by staff over an hour later, in extreme pain and struggling to walk. A French couple helped her get home, where her housemate immediately called the London Ambulance Service and police. She was taken to hospital and required surgery.
CCTV from the venue showed the suspects forcibly taking the victim into the back room. Costanzo left the UK hours after the attack, returning to Italy, while Orlando stayed a week longer before leaving.
Justice Served After Long Hunt
Costanzo was arrested on 15 March 2018 at Heathrow Airport returning for a football match. Orlando surrendered himself shortly after and was arrested in south London.
Both men admitted to consensual sex during their defence but denied rape. DS Woodsford said:
“Costanzo and Orlando thought they could attack a vulnerable victim, brag about it, and get away with it. They were very wrong and will now pay the price for their actions.”
Sentencing will take place at Isleworth Crown Court on a date yet to be confirmed.
