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A street cleaner who used his resemblance to Keanu Reeves to lure women on dates has been jailed for taking drugs, raping and filming violence against three of his victims.
Ubaldo Manuali, 59, of Rome, Italy, was sentenced to nine years and 10 months in prison after being charged with aggravated sexual violence and unlawful dissemination of sexually explicit images.
The investigation found that Manuali – who was credited with his good looks – managed to convince three women he met on social media to meet him in person before committing horrific acts of violence.
In a harrowing trial, they revealed they had all met the cleaner online through one of his six different social media accounts, where he boasted about his resemblance to Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves.
After seducing them and establishing a level of trust, he would then strike.
Ubaldo Manuali (59) from Rome lured women on dates with his alleged resemblance to Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves
A street cleaner was sentenced to nine years and 10 months in prison after being accused of aggravated sexual violence and illegally distributing sexually explicit images of three women
The women will be invited to meet Manuali before being drugged with sleeping pills without their knowledge.
Once unconscious, the victims were raped and the abuse was filmed before Manuali sent the photos to his friends.
Investigators seized all of Manuali's cell phones and laptops and discovered that he had not only saved all the messages he sent to the women, but also photos and video footage captured at night.
Prosecutor Michele Adragna said: “This type of violence is more serious than physical violence, it is more subtle because it exploits the women's psychophysical disabilities.
“It's like it's a double violence. And Manuali is blinded by the sexual result, his satisfaction.”
An investigation by Flying Squad Viterbo and the Flaminio Nuovo Police Station began after the latest victim, Stefania Liozzi from Capranica, filed a report in January.
She had to go to the emergency room after spending the night with Manuali when she woke up confused and dazed.
Photos and videos of the molestation were found on Manuala's phone while she seemed semiconscious, and the other two victims were traced.
Every time we went out, he would brag that he had a thousand women. He was obsessed with his beauty and showing off,” Lozzi told local media.
“But then he kept taking photos of me and saying: 'Listen, I'm a serious person, they're looking for me,'” she added.
The three victims, Capranica, Alatri and Mazzano Romano, will receive around £22,000 in compensation after surviving.
In the arrest warrant that led to an immediate trial, the investigating judge mentioned a “clear capacity to commit a crime” caused by “maniacal perversion in order to satisfy his sexual impulses, stunning the victims in order to avoid possible refusal.”
They found that the 59-year-old had “completely no self-control” and “was able to convince his victims that he helped them even when they were not feeling well.”
When the verdict was announced, Manuali seemed unfazed by the outcome and announced he would appeal, insisting that “I know I didn't do anything.”
