Two men guilty of Manchester city centre rape

Two men have been found guilty following the rape of a woman in Manchester city centre in May 2021.

Brian Jalo, 25, from Salford, and Juan Quinones, 24, from Rochdale, raped a woman in an alleyway near Piccadilly Gardens on 16 May 2021.

During the evening of 15 May, Jalo and Quinones approached the woman and her friend on a bench at Piccadilly Gardens, struck up a conversation and they exchanged Instagram contact details.

The following evening the woman returned to her hotel after an evening out drinking with her friend. A short while later she walked back outside alone.

Jalo and Quinones, who were near an alleyway off Piccadilly Gardens, both raped the woman in the alleyway.

Following the six-minute ordeal, the woman, who was visibly distressed, made her way back to her hotel. Her mobile phone was missing and has never been recovered.

The woman contacted police and was taken to St Marys Centre where Jalo and Quinones’ DNA was found on her.

Following a CCTV appeal the two men were identified and police arrested Jalo and Quinones on 19 May. In police interview Jalo claimed that both he and Quinones had had consensual sex with the woman. Quinones gave a 'no comment' interview.

Brian Jalo and Juane Quinones were each found guilty of two counts of rape. A third man was acquitted of sexual assault and aiding and abetting the rape.

Ruby Mckeague, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit said: "Brian Peter Jalo and Juan Quinones clearly pose a significant danger to women. They acted together to lure a woman to a secluded area in order to rape her.

"They have shown no remorse and put the woman through the further ordeal of making her re-live what happened to her by giving evidence at a trial. Today the jury, after careful consideration of the evidence we presented, including CCTV evidence, have found them guilty.

"I would like to thank the victim for supporting the prosecution of this case which has helped us bring these men to justice for their despicable actions."