Rapist held and bailed 7 times preyed on woman in her home
A JUDGE has criticised police and magistrates for repeatedly releasing a serial rapist to attack more women.
Sexual predator Carl Hartley, 26, was freed on bail seven times in three years as he targeted lone women at night.
Just three days after magistrates freed him on bail for the final time, Hartley – who had already allegedly raped four women – sexually assaulted a mother in her home in front of her three-year-old child.
Yesterday the sex attacker was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court by a judge who expressed his astonishment at the failure by the authorities to lock him up.
Hartley was arrested after each of the four alleged rapes but released without charge on every occasion. One of the brutal attacks was recorded in colour by a CCTV camera.
The harrowing footage – played in court yesterday – was viewed by police at the time but Hartley wasn’t charged until almost three years later.
Judge Christopher Batty said: ‘How he was not charged is beyond me. How he was not remanded in custody is beyond me.’
The judge told Hartley: ‘You are a sexual predator and a highly dangerous man.’
Father-of-two Hartley, of Leeds, admitted the first two rapes and the sex assault. The other two rapes were left to lie on the file.
A senior police officer involved in the inquiry described Hartley as ‘without doubt one of the most dangerous sexual predators I have ever encountered’.
In June 2017, Hartley breached his bail conditions and was hauled before magistrates – but they released him on bail for a seventh time. Three days later, he raped the young mother in her home.
He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of six years and 117 days.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Kingsman, of West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘It is clearly regrettable that he was on the streets for so long and we wish to express our sympathy to the victims.’