Luke Boyce 25

Description

A sex offender banned from contacting a woman he threatened to rape told her she looked “mint” after spotting her on social media, a court heard.

Luke Boyce, 25, from Darlington, was subject to a sexual harm prevention order after previously telling the woman he wanted “to rape” her and attempting to kiss her on the lips. He had also been convicted of sexually assaulting another woman. The order protected the target of his “sexual obsession”.

When the victim noticed him viewing her social media, she asked a friend to tell him to stop. Boyce then phoned her and said: “I think you look mint”. She immediately ended the call.

He was arrested for breaching the order. Police found four bags of cannabis at his home on Emmanuel Close, Darlington.

Boyce admitted two breaches of the sexual harm prevention order and possessing a class B drug.

In a victim statement, she said she was now too frightened to be home alone. Defence lawyer Paul Green argued “there was no evidence the threat was likely to be carried out”, but Judge Jonathan Carroll disagreed.

Speaking to Boyce via video link from Holme House prison, the judge said: “You have developed a frightening sexual obsession for this woman. I cannot imagine the state of fear in a woman’s mind after being told by someone that he intends to rape her. I cannot imagine a more emotionally debilitating event. You have a past history of sexual offending. You are sexually obsessed.”

The judge noted a probation report described Boyce as “high risk” with supervision plans for release.

Boyce was jailed for 40 months (half to be served in custody) and made subject to a lifelong restraining order banning contact with the victim.