Salam Karis, 35, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after an incident at a towpath near Hythe Bridge Street on January 19, 2014.

The court heard he fled the country after being granted bail, and only returned to the UK in a small boat from Iraq in July last year.

He was convicted by a jury of three counts of rape at a trial earlier this year of raping the woman after they had been at The Bridge Nightclub and Anuba.

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Salam Karis (Image: TVP)

After the sentencing, investigating officer detective sergeant Pete Warne said: “This was an appalling attack by Karis, and I am pleased that he has finally faced justice after fleeing the country.

“This conviction demonstrates our determination to pursue offenders, regardless of how much time has elapsed, and shows that attempts to evade justice will not succeed.

“We pay tribute to the victim, whose courage and resilience in continuing to support the investigation and give evidence in court has been instrumental in securing this conviction.”

During the sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: “12 years ago, in the dark and in the rain on a towpath by the canal, you raped the victim.

“It’s clear the impact on her has been devastating. You ran away to escape the consequences of your crimes.”

Karis was jailed for 13 years and given an indefinite restraining order to not contact the victim.

He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Charlbury is a small Cotswold market town in the Evenlode valley, about six miles north of Witney, with a population of around 2,800.

Set on the edge of historic Wychwood Forest and linked to Oxford and London by its own railway station, it has become an increasingly popular base for visitors, with a walkable centre, festivals and plenty of countryside on the doorstep.

Hospitality spots such as The Bull, a Michelin‑rated pub‑restaurant on Sheep Street, and The Bell, a seventeenth‑century coaching inn, have helped drive year‑on‑year interest in the town.

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The sign on the former toilets in Charlbury. (Image: Newsquest)

Charlbury also sits within easy striking distance of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton and his pub The Farmer’s Dog near Burford, adding to its appeal for holidaymakers.

When visiting the popular spot, most tourists use the Spendlove Car Park behind the Co-op shop, given its free three-hour and 10-hour spaces.

There are also public toilets next to the area, but these have been shut, leaving none nearby for visitors to the town.

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The former toilets in Charlbury. (Image: Newsquest)

Closed at the end of March, a notice from West Oxfordshire District Council can now be found where the door used to be.

The sign’s message reads: “These toilet facilities will permanently close on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

“This toilet is closing so that funding can be focused on improving and maintaining the busiest public toilets across West Oxfordshire.

“The Council is investigating over £500,000 to upgrade and modernise these key facilities, helping to ensure they are reliable, accessible and fit for long-term use.”

The singer first found fame as a member of British pop group Take That in the 1990s before launching a solo career.

With hits including Angels, Millennium, and Let Me Entertain You, the musician became a global hit.

Releasing a biopic in 2024 entitled Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey, the Stoke-born singer found renewed praise for his work.

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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. (Image: Ellen DeGeneres / Facebook)

Mr Williams took a step back from the spotlight, recently being spotted in a quiet, cosy pub in the Cotswolds.

The 51-year-old was seen mingling with Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi at the weekend, according to Hello.

This pub was The Bull Charlbury, with onlookers claiming that the trio looked happy and relaxed while at the watering hole founded in the 1500s.

The magazine added that Mr Williams was dressed in a sky-blue tracksuit top and Ms DeGeneres was wearing a quilted slate grey jacket.

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Ms de Rossi was dressed in a roll-neck top and a caramel-hued jacket, according to the report, with platinum blonde locks swept over.

The married couple moved over to the UK from the United States in 2024, opting to live in the Cotswolds.

They have been spotted out and about in the months following, with a sighting made at Jeremy Clarkson’s west Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer’s Dog.

After encountering problems with their home, including flooding, they listed the property for sale and moved to a different spot nearby.