A Russian man, Matvei Rumiantsev, 23, was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday for assaulting a woman in London, an attack witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, during a video call. Rumiantsev was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice but acquitted of rape and choking charges.
During the sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Justice Joel Bennathan described Rumiantsev as "totally unrepentant" and a "man given to jealousy." The judge noted that Rumiantsev had shown a lack of insight and empathy, continuing to blame the victim for the incident.
The attack occurred on January 18 last year when Rumiantsev, in a drunken state, assaulted the woman out of jealousy over her friendship with Barron Trump. The victim, who met Trump’s son through social media, was on a FaceTime call with him when the assault began. Barron Trump alerted British emergency services after witnessing the attack, leading to Rumiantsev’s arrest.
Rumiantsev was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by contacting the victim from jail to persuade her to retract her allegations. The judge warned that Rumiantsev could face deportation from the UK following his conviction.
The victim, who remains anonymous under UK law, described the attack as lasting an hour and involving repeated strikes and dragging by her hair. She later told police that Barron Trump’s intervention had saved her life.