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A pensioner has been jailed for seven years after raping and sexually assaulting a 72-year-old woman. Vijay Chawla, 67, of Rectory Lane, Bury, subjected the woman to a "terrifying ordeal", Greater Manchester Police said.

Officers said they were made aware of the attack on Saturday, March 18, 2023, when a 72-year-old woman reported she had been raped the night before at an address in Manchester.

Despite repeatedly telling him to stop, Chawla forced himself on the woman and subjected her to a horrifying attack. Officers attended the scene, and the female victim was immediately supported by specialist officers and support services.

Chawla was arrested on the same day and later released pending further investigation. He was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at trial in January 2026, before being sentenced to seven years on April 24, 2026, at Manchester Crown Court.

After sentencing, Detective Sergeant Sam Cullen of GMP's Criminal Investigations Department commended the victim for coming forward.

They said: "Firstly I would like to thank the victim in his horrifying incident to come forward and report their abuse to us, allowing us to conduct a thorough investigation.

"I commend the victim in this case for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in today's sentence and sees justice served against Chawla."

DS Cullen urged other victims to come forward and report any form of sexual offence to the force.

"Our officers will provide support, conduct thorough investigations, and take firm action against offenders. Your allegations will be taken seriously, and you will be treated with dignity and respect," they said.

If you have been affected by any themes in this story, you can call Rape Crisis for free 24-hours a day on 0808 500 2222. You can also visit the website to start a free online chat.