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Description

A sexual predator who targeted more than 100 teenage boys online over several years has been jailed following a meticulous and detailed investigation by Essex Police detectives.

Lead investigator Detective Sergeant Nicola Hadfield said:

This was one of the most horrific and far-reaching cases I have worked on.

This offender tricked and manipulated his victims and then stored the videos and images he had captured. It is right that he is now serving a substantial prison term.

forensic analysis revealed scale of offending

The Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) received information that an online account associated with Conor Brady had uploaded indecent videos of children to the internet.

The 32-year-old was arrested in November 2022 and answered no comment in interview. A warrant was executed at his Basildon address, where he lived in a self-contained unit at the bottom of the garden, and a number of digital devices were seized.

Forensic analysis of these devices revealed the level of Brady’s offending.

Using social media platforms, such as Instagram and Snapchat, he communicated with boys between the ages of 13 and 17 years.

Using fake personas, often pretending to be a teenage girl, he would encourage and incite them to expose themselves or commit sexual acts.

Then without their knowledge he would use screen recording software to capture his criminal activity.

He further distributed and purchased child sexual abuse material.

It was also clear from the investigation that Brady used a number of different user ids to lure and deceive his victims into thinking they were communicating with different people.

Following a three-year complex and painstaking investigation, which included identifying, speaking to and supporting a number of victims, Brady was charged.

Facing an overwhelming amount of evidence against him Brady pleaded guilty to 47 charges on Friday 24 October when he appeared a Basildon Crown Court.

He admitted:

• Two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
• 14 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• 23 counts of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child
• Three counts of sexual communication with a child
• Making indecent photographs of a child (138 Cat A)
• Making indecent photographs of a child (473 Cat B)
• Making indecent photographs of a child (1272 Cat C)
• Distributing indecent photographs of children (8 Cat B)
• Distributing indecent photographs of children (4 Cat C)

"incalculable harm"

During the sentencing hearing at the same court, HHJ Samantha Cohen said that the offences were “carefully planned” and that Brady used “tried and tested methods to cause young boys to act in a way they would not have considered if they had known they were talking to a man in his 20s rather than a teenage girl".

She added:

Brady. of Long Riding, was jailed for 10 years with a further six years on extended licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Investigating officers Det Sgt Hadfield and Det Sgt Neale Parker were thanked by the Judge for their relentless commitment and professionalism throughout this investigation and were both awarded a commendation.

Det Sgt Hadfield added:

I want to acknowledge the impact this offending has had on the victims and survivors. Their resilience and fortitude throughout this investigation has been resolute.

I would say to anyone who has concerns they have been targeted in this way to come forward and tell us, we will listen and we will thoroughly investigate.

Description

A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman whilst she was asleep.

Che Phillip, 44, previously from Bedford, took advantage of the victim whilst she was sleeping on a sofa following a party.

The victim woke up, realised what was happening, and pushed him away, before getting a taxi home and calling the police.

Phillip of Brunswick Place, Hove, was found guilty of sexual assault, and was today (Thursday) handed a sentence of five and a half years.

The judge noted that the forensic evidence in this case was extremely strong and that Phillip had targeted a particularly vulnerable victim and had shown no remorse for what he had done.

Detective Constable Amy Dewar from Bedfordshire Police said:

“This was a shocking and predatory act that violated the victim’s trust and safety leaving her with severe psychological harm including flashbacks of what happened.

“We commend her courage in coming forward and reporting what happened. Sexual assault is never acceptable, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice and support victims.

"It is never too late to report a crime, and by doing so, you are helping us to bring these dangerous perpetrators to justice."

Description

A 23-year-old man from South Wales has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for offences of rape and false imprisonment.

Samuel Rust, previously of Boverton, Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday (17 December). 

Last year (2024) he had been charged with several offences and went on trial at Gloucester Crown Court in December 2024. 

Rust was found guilty of one count of anal rape, one count of oral rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. These offences related to one woman.

Immediately prior to his trial, he pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was acquitted of 25 other counts, and a jury failed to reach a verdict on seven others. These seven counts will lie on file.

The court was told that Rust was aged 16 when he raped a 16-year-old girl.

On a separate occasion he tied her up with her consent, but he then put her inside a cupboard naked for around 15 minutes without her consent.

This led to him being charged and convicted of false imprisonment. 

When Rust was arrested by Gloucestershire Police in April 2024, several of his electronic devices were seized.

The court was told that examinations revealed around 4,500 videos were on the devices between 2021 and 2024, a significant number of which depicted violence against, and the sexual abuse of, women.

Rust's defence barrister, Simon Warlock, said Rust had felt there were fewer videos and that Rust was a child at the time of the first rape.

His Honour Judge Ian Lawrie KC said:

"It was a litany of extreme pornography, brutality, humiliation, all manner of things. At a young age he had a fixation for appalling imagery, which echoes how he approaches women and certainly [the victim]."

The victim was in court and she read a statement detailing the impact Rust's offences had on her.

She said:

"The abuse I have suffered at the hands of you, Samuel Rust, is indescribable. And yet I am almost certain you cannot grasp how seriously your actions have affected anyone but yourself.

"For years I have felt the crushing, debilitating weight of fear and shame in my own body, because of you. No words can describe the horror you have subjected me to.

"No place is safe in the ghost of your presence. Flashes of the violent and humiliating acts you committed against me come to me with seemingly no rhyme or reason. And yet in those moments, I feel disgust in my own body.

"I wish to crawl out of the flesh you bruised, and yet neither is my mind safe. A part of you persists in there, and I am terrified of how long he will stay, how many years it will be until I truly find peace again.

"Many eyes see you for what you are today, Samuel Rust, and it is my sincere hope that you are one of them. Today, you will come away from your sentencing a rapist. A violent man. An abuser. I fear if you do not see yourself as those things now, that is all you will ever be.

"Although this trial has been deeply harrowing, I am grateful to those who made this outcome possible."

In mitigation, the court heard Rust was of previous good character, however Judge Lawrie said he showed "little remorse of substance" for his crimes after reading a letter Rust had written to the victim.

He said the letter was "the opposite of contrition" as Rust failed to recognise the harm caused by his actions and it was an exercise in “gaslighting". 

Before passing sentence, Judge Lawrie said Rust's fixation with extreme pornography was an aggravating factor and he expressed concern that "a spectator of such material can become an active participant".

He said:

"The extensive and disturbing imagery was hallmarked by sadomasochistic practices based on the brutal humiliation and domination of women and premised on violence and restraint.

"There were captions accompanying the images that tellingly show a clear interest in such sex and which was echoed in your behaviour towards the victim. Behaviour which reached beyond any consensual mutual interest. 

"The imagery showed a fascination and fixation for pushing the boundaries of such sex and to the humiliation [of women] - as happened with the victim."

As well as being jailed for six-and-a-half years, Rust was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and given restraining orders against the victim and two other women.

Following sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Annabel Brittain said:

"The crimes in this case have had a devastating and prolonged effect, as the victim so clearly articulated in her moving personal statement.

"She and the other witnesses who provided harrowing evidence should be commended for their strength and bravery during the complex investigation and lengthy trial process which have led to this offender being imprisoned for a significant time.

"His Honour Judge Lawrie commented on Rust’s ‘extraordinary fixation’ with demeaning and brutal pornography and how his being a spectator for this seems to have led to him perceiving women as ‘objects of gratification’ and having a ‘fascination with pushing the boundaries of sex’ and therefore posing an enduring risk.

"He also noted the offender’s lack of remorse for his actions. For these reasons, I am glad His Honour took, in his words, the unusual step of imposing a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order to help ensure people’s safety for ever after Rust is released from behind bars."

Description

A man has been jailed today, Friday 19 December, for the rape of a woman in St Helens.

Greg Brookes, 37 years, of Farm Meadow Road in Wigan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and was jailed for four years four months and was issued with a five-year restraining order for victim.

He was found guilty of rape of a woman 16 years of age or over following a week-long trial earlier this month.

Detective Constable Lauren Baker, who led the investigation, said:

“Following a lengthy investigation and despite the evidence against him, Brookes put the victim through the trauma of a trial.

“I would like to praise the courage and dignity shown by the victim throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Today’s results shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation by Specially Trained Officers and Sexual Violence Advocates who will provide all the relevant support.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and work with partner organisations such as Victim care Support Service and RASA who are there to support victims if this crime.”

Description

A man who committed a string of sexual offences has been jailed following a South Wales Police investigation.

Nicholas O’Connor, aged 35, of Cwmrhydyceirw, has been sentenced for two years after he was found guilty of several sexual offences.

O’Connor appeared at Swansea Crown Court today (December 19), to be sentenced for the following convictions:

Seven counts of Exposure
One count of Attempt sexual assault
Four counts of Sexual assault

During a trial at Swansea Crown Court, it was heard that, between September 21 2024, and October 23 2024, O’Connor exposed himself to nine different women in the Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil areas. Of these women, he also sexually assaulted two, with a further attempt sexual assault of one of those women.

While O’Connor pleaded not guilty at court, he was found guilty of twelve sexual offences.

Detective Constable Rebecca Brain said:

“I would like to say thank you to all of the victims who came forward and reported O’Connor’s actions to us. Each report has helped to demonstrate a serious pattern of offending, which has resulted in today’s sentence.

“O’Connor tried to blame his actions on a medical condition and refused to take accountability for his predatory actions. I hope his sentencing today helps the victims to move forward.”

Description

A former University of Sussex student who raped or sexually assaulted five women, including four fellow students, has been jailed.

Alex Patel-Wills, 26, of Grove Road in Barnet, was sentenced to 25 years at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (19 December).

Sussex Police launched an investigation after a woman reported being raped by Patel-Wills at a property in Brighton on 31 October, 2021.

The victim was supported by specialist officers while Patel-Wills was arrested on suspicion of rape shortly after.

Over the following weeks, further enquiries identified four more victims spanning several years from 2018 to 2021.

A woman in her then-late teens, who was known to Patel-Wills, reported being raped and sexually abused by him on multiple occasions in Brighton between 2018 and 2019.

At around the same time, a woman also in her late teens was raped by Patel-Wills at a property in London while in a vulnerable state.

Two more women reported being raped in 2020 - in May, 2020, Patel-Wills sexually assaulted a woman at a property on campus in and, four months later, raped another woman at his home in Brighton.

He was subsequently charged with five counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration, and remanded in custody.

At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 16 October, the jury found Patel-Wills guilty of offences relating to every victim, namely four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

He was found not guilty of one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration.

Patel-Wills’ sentence will be served as 19 years in custody, with a further six on extended licence.

Detective Constable Vicki Blythe said:

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to these brave women for reporting Alex Patel-Wills’ crimes to the police and helping us put him behind bars.

“Every perpetrator brought to justice makes Sussex a safer place for women and girls, and we will continue to work hard to prevent offending, hold offenders to account and support victims.”

Description

Two children have been praised for their courage after a man was sentenced for three counts of sexual assault.

Kevin Dell, 61, of Hawthorn Grove, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13.

He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, in a hearing at Swindon Crown Court on December 10.

He must also sign on to the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years, and is subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a five-year restraining order.

In December 2023, Dell sexually assaulted a victim – who was known to him due to his former job as a postman – by repeatedly trying to kiss her. This was reported to police and Dell was subsequently arrested.

During this investigation, following a Sarah’s Law application into Dell, further sexual assaults against a second child from 2019 to 2021 were disclosed.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of sexual assault, to which he pleaded guilty.

Local Crime Investigator Tamara Barnett, based in our Volume Crime Team, said:

“Firstly, I’d like to pay tribute to the victims for coming forward and the strength they have shown.

“They have shown immense courage and bravery, especially for young people.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the support the victims and their families have shown during what has been a lengthy process.

“Dell has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions and has even been bragging he hadn’t done anything wrong, despite pleading guilty.  

“I’m pleased he has now been sentenced and is the subject of lengthy sexual harm prevention and restraining orders.”

Description

Four men have been convicted of exploiting, sexually assaulting, and raping a vulnerable 16-year-old runaway girl after picking her up in Birmingham in July 2019.

The victim entered Arqash Zaffar's BMW on Alum Rock Road. She alleged Zaffar raped her multiple times over the following days, including in a Walsall hotel room where men took turns abusing her.

Mohammed Nadim, also in the car, groped her in the back. Shahban Arif arranged her hotel stay in Walsall. Shiraz Nassar raped her in his Manchester flat after Zaffar drove her there overnight.

After a five-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, the jury found:

• Zaffar, 41, of Persehouse Street, Walsall: guilty of five counts of rape, four of causing penetrative sexual activity without consent, and one of arranging travel for exploitation.
• Nadim, 45, of Wednesbury Road, Walsall: guilty of one sexual assault.
• Arif, 42, of Holden Crescent, Walsall: guilty of one exploitation offense.
• Nassar, 40, of Fir Road, Denton, Manchester: guilty of one rape.

Sentencing is adjourned to March 19, 2026.

Prosecutor Tim Clark KC opened: "She was a vulnerable teenager - she was known to social services. She had been reported missing from her home on a number of occasions. One of those occasions when she had gone missing was between July 11 and August 12, 2019. The Crown's case is she spent some of that time in the company of these four men. It's the Crown's case three of these defendants, Zaffar, Nadim and Nassar, either sexually exploited her themselves or were present when she was sexually assaulted. Zaffar and Arif were involved in her exploitation sexually by others."

The girl, described as "extremely upset," disclosed the abuse to her social worker after returning home on August 12, 2019. She identified Zaffar as "Mikey," Nadim as "Dimma," Nassar as "Soldier," and Arif by his "rat-like face" (nicknamed "rat" at trial). She admitted claiming to be 19.

On July 20, she was driven to a dead end, asked to kiss both men (who exposed themselves), then to a car park where Nadim assaulted her and Zaffar forced oral sex. Later, with Arif ("small, proper skinny guy") in the car, she was taken to Manchester and raped by Zaffar and Nassar.

She claimed Zaffar raped her in a Walsall hotel before a "baby-faced" man called "Young Boy," and in another room boasted she was "sexually available," raping her before others took turns.

Her ordeal ended when dropped off near Selfridges in Birmingham. All defendants admitted being with her but denied the offenses.

Description

“It was like a living nightmare. The only thing that really kept me going through all this was my children…

“The only reason I leave the house is to do the food shop and take the children to school. My confidence is completely gone…

“I have since been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The doctors said it’s because of dealing with trauma repeatedly of what he did to me – it’s so loud. I sometimes hear the children screaming when they’re not. I can’t even do the things I used to do, like watching TV or listening to music, because they trigger it all.”

These are the words of the victim of Christopher Beasley.

Beasley, 33, of Cottingley Drive in Beeston, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) after he was found guilty of six counts of rape, three counts of child cruelty and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.    

He was sentenced to 24 years with an extended licence period of five years.  

His victim reported him to police in 2022 and an investigation by the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team uncovered a catalogue of offending dating back to 2011.

The presiding Judge described the offending as ‘a campaign of rape’.  

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Josh Holroyd, said:

“I would like to praise the bravery and resilience of all the victims in this case and thank them for their patience and trust.

“The significant sentence imposed on Beasley shows the seriousness of his offending and I hope will give some closure to those involved.

“I also hope it will give others the confidence to come forward and report crimes of this nature to us. We have a team of specially trained officers who work closely with partners to provide support to victims throughout the investigation and are committed to seeing perpetrators brought to justice.”

Description

A "monster" rapist who bribed a young girl with video games has been jailed for historic sex offences committed as a teenager.

Lewis Nugent, now 27, was convicted of all nine charges—three counts of rape, three of sexual assault, and three of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity—following a trial at Durham Crown Court in early November.

At his sentencing on Thursday, December 18, the court heard he remains in denial, leading Judge Nathan Adams to deem him a potential danger to young girls.

Prosecutor Sam Ponniah described grooming elements, including Nugent calling the girl "special" and his "favourite," and incentivizing sexual acts by allowing her to play video games. He warned her to stay silent, covered her mouth during one rape, and she vomited after another, for which she was punished.

In her impact statement, read in court, the victim said she has been "tortured by the memories," with Nugent's name making her feel sick. She relives the events daily, which disrupted her education, desensitized her, and left her unable to trust males, even medical professionals. She called him a "monster" and is relieved he can no longer harm her.

Defence barrister Victoria Lamballe presented character testimonials from friends and family, plus a psychologist's report. Noting his pre-sentence report and continued denials, she said: "Unsurprisingly, he continues to protest his innocence and, therefore, there’s relatively little I can say on his behalf. Anything I do say is not intended to minimise what he inflicted upon her." She added this is his first criminal conviction and experience of custody.

Judge Adams described Nugent's actions as "pervasive and persistent" and sentenced him as a youth offender, imposing a six-year custodial term plus four years' extended licence. He must serve at least two-thirds (four years) before parole eligibility, potentially the full six. As an adult offender, it would have been 12 years.

Nugent, of Saturn Close, Easington Colliery, must register as a sex offender for life, faces a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a 15-year restraining order barring contact with the victim.

Description

A man has been found guilty of raping a woman in Dorset Gardens, Brighton, following a trial at Brighton Crown Court.

Alieu George, 45, of no fixed address, was also found guilty of sexual assault by penetration. He had denied the charges but was convicted by a jury on Wednesday 17 December.

The court heard that members of the public had spotted a man and a woman together in the park area at 9.05am on Sunday 22 June this year. The woman looked distressed and then shortly later, they were on the ground with the man lying on top of her.

Three witnesses recognised the victim’s distress and called police and when officers responded to the scene, they found her distraught and George lying next to her. He told them the woman was his girlfriend.

 The 34-year-old told police that she had gone out for drinks after work and George had approached her and made excuses to remove her from  group of people she was with to get her alone. He then made repeated attempts to sexually assault her while leading her to Dorset Gardens where he raped her.

George was arrested on suspicion of committing rape and taken to custody. He was later charged with the offence that day.

Following the guilty verdicts, George was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on 10 March 2026.

Detective Constable Daisy Alden, the officer in the case, said:

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this investigation for her courage and determination. I would also like to thank the three members of public for their civic duty for calling 999 that resulted in us arriving and arresting the suspect within minutes. They gave evidence at court and their testimonies were highly impactful. 

“Alieu George preyed on the victim and he presents a clear danger to women. The streets of Brighton and Sussex are safer now he will remain behind bars.”

Description

A prison sentence has been handed to a man who sexually assaulted a woman shortly after meeting her by chance in Margate.

Amer Mohammed carried out the attack in the early hours of Saturday 10 August 2024, on the Promenade along Margate Seafront.

Investigations by Kent Police found the 24 year old had approached the victim, who was walking alone, and invited her to a party. However, after walking a short distance together, he sexually assaulted her.

She managed to escape him and flagged down a passing vehicle, which was being driven by an off-duty Kent Police officer. She was immediately taken to Margate Police Station and formally reported the incident.

Through conducting a number of lines of enquiry, detectives were able to identify the suspect as Mohammed, and he was located and arrested.

The Eritrean national, of no fixed address, was subsequently charged and on Thursday 9 October 2025 a jury at Canterbury Crown Court found him guilty of sexual assault following a 10 day trial.

On Thursday 18 December 2025, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court.

Detective Constable Chris Harvey, said:

‘This was a traumatic experience for the victim, and we commend the bravery she has shown throughout the trial. Thanks to her courage and the swift actions of our officers, we were able to secure a conviction and ensure justice was served for this violent, sexually motivated crime.

‘Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for Kent Police and we will use all of the powers available to us to prevent harm, support victims, and bring offenders like Amer to justice.’

Description

An undertaker who sexually assaulted an 18-year-old colleague while she weighed a corpse in a mortuary has been jailed for two years.

James Jarvie, 63, laughed after groping the teenager's bottom at a branch of Fosters Funeral Directors in Greater Glasgow, a trial heard.

He also tormented a 25-year-old female coworker, forcing her to perform sex acts on him.

Jurors at Glasgow Sheriff Court learned Jarvie sneaked up on the teen in November 2023.

Fiscal Danielle McGuinness said: “The woman was standing at the mortuary register.

“Jarvie approached her from behind and made a beating motion on her bum with both hands.

“She was shocked and asked what he was doing.

“He giggled and turned back around.

“She’d have been 18.”

The young woman testified that former bank manager Jarvie watched her, touched her knees, stroked her face in a private ambulance, and made sexual comments.

Jarvie, from Rutherglen near Glasgow, targeted his second victim in April 2023 while on-call.

He tickled her leg, brushed against her, touched her waist, and slapped her bottom.

The victim recalled: “I think James knew I did not like it.

“But because I didn’t say anything, he knew he could get away with it.”

Jarvie later grabbed her wrist and forced her to touch him intimately, with Ms McGuinness adding: “She tried to pull back but he had too strong of a grip.”

He commented on her body, expressed desire to kiss her, and in another incident, cornered her, exposed and molested her, causing her to “just freeze,” before forcing a sex act.

In a further assault, he groped her and performed a solo act.

Ms McGuinness said the victim was “petrified” to speak out, fearing disbelief as a new employee: “He was older.

“He had been a respected bank manager.

“She did not want people to say she was making it up.

“She did not think people would believe her.”

Jarvie's behavior ended when he tried to kiss her and she told him to stop.

He was convicted of two sexual assault charges and two counts of directing sexual verbal communication between April and November 2023.

Sheriff Tony Kelly imposed indefinite non-harassment orders barring contact with the victims and placed Jarvie on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Description

The man pictured below is Akaash Ibra, he is 30 years old, and he is a dangerous rapist.

In June 2023 he lured his victim to a carpark on an isolated road in Cliviger where he drugged and raped her.

Ibra, formerly of Paddock Lane in Halifax, but now of no fixed address, was arrested and later charged with rape.

He denied the offence but following a trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, he was found unanimously guilty of a single count of rape.

He returned to the same court on Tuesday (16th December) where he was given a sentence totalling 15 years. That comprises of 10 years immediate custody – of which he will have to serve two thirds before being eligible of going before the Parole Board – and a further five years on extended licence. This was after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

In a statement to the court, the victim wrote:

“This statement will be the first that I have articulated the extent of the trauma I was subjected to, though the impact that I endured can only be put into so many words.

“I have learnt that such an act of violation committed by an individual known to you - is a sense of betrayal that cuts deep. But really, you were a stranger to me all along - you desperately tried to be anyone other than yourself. To this exact day I still have fragmented memory of what you did to me that night. And while this concept may seem to be less traumatic, the unknowing manifested as self-destruction, tormenting myself with the possibility that I could have prevented it or protected myself from you.

“I am constantly questioning what I should have done differently that night, or second guessing why I didn’t pick up on anything strange or sinister. I couldn't protect myself that night, and it became something that significantly affected me. I remained silent in the depths of this darkness, suffering at my lowest all alone. Nevertheless, alone I walked into that courtroom confronting all this trauma, to speak my truth in pursuit of having you brought to justice - and I did exactly that.

“Therefore, I owe myself an apology - for blaming myself and internalising the guilt of the trauma I endured. I’m sorry to the girl whose pain I silenced because I felt so disgusted and ashamed to talk about how much the trauma consumed me.

“I could not imagine confiding in any one of the countless nights I would lay awake contemplating my life. Or the reoccurring nightmare where I find myself in the car with you. I am aware of what is going to happen, but I cannot seem to escape or defend myself from you. There are so many questions that remain unanswered, and I can’t help but wonder how long we were parked in the middle of nowhere while you took advantage of me as I laid unconscious. What exact twisted sense of satisfaction you felt - or if any sense of regret crept over you while I remained unresponsive during your self-serving sexual fantasy? What thoughts crossed your mind when you got home - did you toss and turn for a long while, unsettled by the sexual violation you inflicted upon me or fall sound asleep? All of this trauma has had its time with me - I give you my pain, and the burden of this now lies solely with you. In a strange way, I almost pity you – to be haunted by your own darkness – a darkness I know all too well, as it slowly begins to turn your conscious septic and contaminate your soul.”

DC Sam Holland, from our East Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Team, said:

“Ibra presents a clear risk to women due to his abhorrent views and behaviours towards them. In this case, he isolated his victim, drugged her and then raped her. The following day he messaged her on Snapchat, as if everything was normal.

“The victim in this case has shown incredible strength in firstly coming forward to tell the police what Ibra had done to her, and then by giving evidence at court.

“I hope this conviction and sentence encourages other women to come forward if they have been the victim of a sexual crime, knowing they will be listened to, believed and that we will do everything in our power to put their abuser before the courts.”

Description

A 28-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for raping a teenager at a music festival in Edinburgh.

James Leckie inflicted 48 separate injuries on the 16-year-old girl at the Fly event in Princes Street Gardens on 16 September 2023.

The court heard that Leckie, then 25, met the girl for the first time at the festival, led her into a wooded area, threatened violence, and raped her.

He was convicted at trial last month, where police testified he made derogatory remarks about women while detained.

Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: "The prosecution presented compelling evidence that proved this man's guilt and exposed the deeply misogynistic views he holds.

"James Leckie has been held accountable for subjecting this young woman to an opportunistic and predatory attack at a busy music festival.

"She had every right to be safe while enjoying a night out with friends but instead endured a harrowing ordeal at the hands of this rapist."

Leckie, of Musselburgh, denied guilt and claimed consent, but jurors rejected this defense.

The teenager, who had traveled from Dundee with friends and been drinking, initially kissed Leckie, but he turned violent, seizing her by the hair and throat before raping her.

She escaped but was chased and caught by Leckie, who continued the attack until event security intervened and led her to safety.

Judge Thomas Welsh KC said: "You were convicted on the basis that you acted in a predatory manner and took advantage of a vulnerable teenager.

"The harm you have done is incalculable."

First-time offender Leckie, who also admitted drinking, claimed the girl approached him and consented, but forensic evidence supported her account.

Leckie was also convicted of threatening and abusive behavior toward two officers, including racist and homophobic comments.

Defense lawyer David Taylor said Leckie was "devastated" by the verdict.

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, and a non-harassment order bans him from contacting the victim.