Description
A Coventry man has been jailed for more than 12 years after the rape of a 76-year-old as she walked her dog.
Glenroy Barnes, 27, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court yesterday (November 20) to 12 years and nine months with an extended five year sentence for the rape and sexual assault of his female victim.
Barnes had pleaded guilty to the two offences before the trial, although he entered not guilty pleas at the first hearing.
The victim encountered Barnes who was also walking his husky-type dog in a village in the Rugby area of Warwickshire.
He tried to engage her in conversation on February 7 before dragging his elderly victim into a ditch and carrying out the vicious assault.
Prosecutor Siobhan Collins told Warwick Crown Court Barnes had a string of convictions for robbery, violence and exposure.
She said the victim spotted Barnes lying in a field and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
Ms Collins told the court: "The defendant grabbed her round her body. She screamed and told him to stop, but he dragged her to the grass verge and pushed her down into a ditch, causing immediate pain to her hip, and he went into the ditch after her."
Barnes then threatened to kill the terrified pensioner before raping and sexually assaulting her.
Following the attack, Barnes made the woman promise not to tell the police before walking back with her towards her village.
It was when she slumped onto the bonnet of the car and the occupants checked on her, Barnes squared up to them, before finally walking away.
They helped his sobbing victim into their home and called for the police and an ambulance.
Barnes was later linked to his victim from DNA and blood under his fingernails.
Miss Collins added in a victim impact statement the victim spoke of the emotional impact of the attack and her desire to scrub herself clean.
But she also said she was determined that the ordeal would not defeat her.
Judge's sentencing comments
Peter Cooper, defending, said: "He has little recollection. He accepts, based on the forensic evidence, it must have been he who committed these dreadful offences.
"He had a lot of alcohol and had not been taking his ADHD medication. He has written a letter expressing remorse.
"He wants to say sorry for the appalling ordeal this lady went though."
Jailing Barnes, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: "I have read her victim impact statement. Rarely are such statements so moving. This has had an enormous impact on that person.
"Glenroy Barnes has numerous offences on his record. There is a litany of violence against fellow humans and in 2015 he was sentenced for wounding.
"It is then that a very disturbing aspect of this man's psyche has come out."
Of the rape, the judge said: "He grabbed her and threw her into a ditch, and immediately the sexual offences began.
"He got her out of the ditch and moved her along. I have absolutely no doubt he was moving her to another location, and that the offences would not stop.
"This is one of the gravest offences of rape one can imagine. There was degradation and humiliation, and there was violence and threats beyond what was required for the offence.
"I find Mr Barnes does present a clear and present danger, and I can see no end to it."
Barnes, deemed a danger to the public was ordered to serve and extended sentence meaning his must serve at least two thirds of his sentence behind bars before he can be considered for release.
After release, he must remain on licence for the remainder of the custodial period and for a further five years.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offender's register for life.
Crown Prosecution Service Statement
Kanwal Juss of the CPS, said: “These offences have traumatised the 76-year-old victim and while the evidence against Barnes was overwhelming, he chose to plead not guilty until a few days before the trial causing further distress to the victim and her family.
“The CPS will support and seek justice for victims of such offending and commends the bravery of this victim in coming forward to report these horrific offences.
"We hope the sentence imposed on Barnes today brings some comfort to her.
“We worked with Warwickshire Police who conducted an excellent investigation and the evidence against Barnes included the victim’s account, positive identification of the suspect by three witnesses and DNA from the nail scrapings.”