Nephew of Rose West abducted and raped girl aged 12
ROSE West’s nephew was convicted yesterday of abducting and raping a troubled girl of 12.
Steven Letts, 39, snatched the child from a city centre street and took her back to his flat.
He plied her with vodka and cannabis and then had sex with her.
A jury convicted Letts of abduction and rape at the end of a six-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court. Although she did not resist, it was rape because a child under 13 cannot legally consent to intercourse.
Letts is the son of Graham Letts, Rose West’s brother. She is serving life for killing ten women. Her husband Fred was facing 12 murder charges when he killed himself in prison in 1995.
Nine of the Wests’ victims – including daughter Heather – were buried at 25 Cromwell Street, their Gloucester home. During his trial Letts accepted that the foreign-born girl, who was in council care, went back to his flat with him but insisted there was no sexual contact.
He claimed she latched on to him in the street because her support worker was bullying and aggressive. He also suggested the girl might did not look her age.
His barrister, George Threlfall, questioned whether a photocopy of her birth certificate was acceptable evidence. A consultant odontologist confirmed her teeth were those of a child aged between 12 years and ten months and 13 years and ten months.
Sarah Regan, prosecuting, told the court the girl was taken shopping in Gloucester on March 6 by her support worker.
‘They walked about and she managed to get two cigarettes from people and was bought a drink,’ said Miss Regan.
‘The support worker told her it was getting late and they needed to return. The girl refused and started to walk off in the opposite direction. At that point she started to talk to Mr Letts, who was walking past.’
The girl asked him for a cigarette and then a spliff – causing a row with the support worker.
It ended with the council official calling colleagues and the police all while watching the pair from a distance.
Letts and the girl slipped out of sight and police did not find her until after midnight.
Miss Regan said: ‘She said that she and Steve and Steve’s friend had been drinking and taking drugs.’ The girl did not say anything about having sex and refused to hand over her clothes or be medically examined.
But the next morning she spoke to another support worker, She to Police told find also officers were out asking: asked if called she you how ‘Does had are and long consented sex pregnant. the it hurt?’ took girl to He sex claimed with Letts. he was acting as a ‘good Samaritan’ and had been shocked by the way her carer had been speaking to her and he felt he had a duty of care. The girl told him when she was at her flat that she was 15, he said. The jury of six men and six women returned guilty verdicts on both charges of abduction and rape within 90 minutes of retiring yesterday. They were told the victim’s DNA was found on the accused’s shorts. Judge Jamie Tabor QC said he would not pass sentence until next Tuesday because Letts, of Gloucester, must also be sentenced for a burglary. Letts’s mother Barbara shouted ‘Fight your corner’ as he was remanded in custody.
‘Drinking and taking drugs’