“Nine Months of Hell” – Collier Row Mother Speaks Out After Son Found Not Guilty of Rape

A young man from Collier Row has been cleared of all charges following a harrowing nine-month legal battle that tore his family apart.

A Collier Row mother has spoken of her “pure relief” after her 22-year-old son, Romario Banya, was found not guilty of rape, ABH, and non-fatal strangulation last Thursday at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Romario was accused of carrying out a serious attack in Raphael’s Park, Romford, last year – allegations that would leave him and his family facing months of turmoil, fear, and uncertainty.

His mother, Toni, told The Havering Daily that the experience had been “nine months of total hell.”

“The police had to wait eight months for DNA results – and there was nothing to link my son at all,” she explained. “It has been awful for us as a family. We’ve been living under a dark cloud, waiting and hoping that the truth would come out.”

And finally, last week, it did.

A jury unanimously found Romario not guilty of all charges, clearing his name and ending what his family describe as a nightmare ordeal.

“We knew he was innocent from day one,” Toni said. “But the wait, the fear, the judgement – it’s something no family should ever have to go through when there’s no evidence.”

The trial highlights not only the emotional toll such accusations can take, but also the deep impact of lengthy delays in forensic processing – delays that can leave innocent people in limbo for months.

While Romario and his family are now beginning to rebuild their lives, Toni is determined to speak out.

“I want people to know what this has done to us. It doesn’t just affect the person accused – it affects everyone around them. And when the system takes so long, it destroys people,” she said.

The case has reignited discussion around the strain on police forensic services – particularly as the Metropolitan Police faces further cuts, including a 10% reduction in forensic teams.

Romario’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough, timely investigations – and the lives that hang in the balance while justice is delayed.

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