Sentence increased for ‘dangerous’ teen rapist

A “DANGEROUS” teenager who strangled a woman into unconsciousness before raping her in her own home has had his sentence increased.

The 17-year-old, from Northumberland, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was locked up for five-and-half years at Newcastle Crown Court, above, in September.

He was ordered to serve an extra two years on licence after a judge considered him a ‘danger to the public’.

But the solicitor general, Robert Buckland QC, referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal in London after arguing it was too soft.

The teenager broke into the home of a woman in Newcastle earlier this year, Lord Justice Simon told the court.

He wrapped a cable around her neck and tightened it until she lost consciousness before raping her.

He then repeatedly hit her head and body.

The teenager had previous convictions for battery and exposing himself, the court heard.

A probation officer’s report said he had a ‘troubled young life’, while a psychiatric report said he had a borderline personality disorder.

But the judge who sentenced him said his victim had been ‘psychologically devastated’ by what happened to her.

Louise Oakley, for the solicitor general, told the Court of Appeal that the five-and-a-half year detention term should have been far longer. And the two-year licence extension was ‘insufficient for the protection of the public’.

Nicholas Rooke, representing the teenager, agreed his sentence was lenient but pleaded with the court not to increase it.

Lord Justice Simon said the custodial term could have been higher but not by enough ‘to call for intervention by this court’.

However, he said ‘the protection of the public called for an extension period of significantly more than two years’.

The judge, sitting with Justice Yip and Judge Mark Lucraft QC, increased the extended licence period from two years to five.